The Senate Minority Caucus on Thursday clarified that the Senate did not reject the electronic transmission of election results before passing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, contrary to widespread media reports that had caused significant public confusion. The clarification followed intense scrutiny of the upper chamber after reports circulated on Wednesday suggesting that lawmakers had rejected proposals for electronic transmission of results, as well as a 10-year ban on vote-buyers and other electoral offenders. Senate President Godswill Akpabio quickly dismissed the claims as misleading, reiterating that the provision for electronic transmission, as contained in the 2022 Electoral Act, was retained, a distinction he noted was essential to avoid potential legal and operational ambiguities.
Speaking to journalists, former Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe emphasized that the caucus felt compelled to address the misunderstanding and provide a factual account of the proceedings to safeguard public confidence and transparency. “Since yesterday (Wednesday), the media has been awash with reports suggesting that the Senate rejected electronic transmission of election results. That is not correct,” Abaribe stated. “To put the record straight, the Senate did not I repeat, did not reject electronic transmission of results as provided for in the 2022 Electoral Act.”
Senator Abaribe elaborated that what the Senate passed was, in fact, the electronic transmission of results, a position also confirmed by Senate President Akpabio during plenary, but misinterpretation arose due to the movement and noise in the chamber during deliberations. He stressed the importance of maintaining public trust, noting that senators derive their mandate from the confidence reposed in them by their constituencies, and that any misrepresentation of legislative actions must be promptly corrected. “We came here under the trust of our senatorial districts. When it appears that our actions have been misunderstood, it becomes necessary to clarify exactly what happened,” he said, underscoring that transparency in the legislative process is a fundamental responsibility of elected officials.
The legislative journey leading to the clarification was detailed extensively by Abaribe, beginning with the work of the joint committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on electoral matters. The joint committee held several retreats within and outside Abuja, engaging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organizations in discussions to ensure that the electronic transmission of results was the agreed-upon mechanism. These deliberations included public hearings, consultations, and extensive debates aimed at ensuring that the electoral process remained free, fair, and credible. Following the submission of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters’ report, an ad hoc committee, chaired by Senator Sadiq Umar, was formed to review the findings further. This committee conducted deliberations in a closed-door session to resolve outstanding issues, ensuring that when the bill returned to plenary, it would pass without contention. Senator Abaribe noted that the outcome of this process was unanimous agreement on the inclusion of electronic transmission of results, as enshrined in Section 65 of the bill.
Abaribe further clarified procedural aspects that have contributed to public misunderstanding. Although the Senate passed the provision for electronic transmission at plenary, the formal adoption of the Votes and Proceedings a necessary procedural step had not yet occurred. Harmonisation between the Senate and House versions of the bill cannot commence until this step is completed. He reassured the public that once the Votes and Proceedings are adopted, the harmonisation committee will reconcile any differences between the two chambers’ versions, adopting either the House or Senate position as appropriate. “Only after that can the harmonisation committee meet. At harmonisation, you either adopt the House version or the Senate version nothing else,” he said, stressing that the final document will accurately reflect the Senate’s commitment to real-time electronic transmission of results.
The senator highlighted that electronic transmission enjoys broad, bipartisan support within the Senate because it is central to ensuring transparent, free, and fair elections foundational pillars of a functioning democracy. The ad hoc committee’s involvement, despite the work of the standing committee, was explained as part of the Senate’s prerogative to regulate its internal processes and ensure clarity during deliberations. All committee members were present to provide clarity and guidance to the senators, ensuring that decisions were made collectively and transparently. The caucus concluded by reaffirming that no harmonisation can lawfully occur until the Votes and Proceedings are formally adopted, thereby guaranteeing that the legislature’s will is accurately reflected and upheld.