Reps pass electoral bill, adopt e-transmission of results ‘where practicable’

The house of representatives has passed the electoral act amendment bill.

The lower legislative chamber passed the bill after the the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.

The house adopted electronic and manual transmission of election results.

The contentious issue in the legislation is the transmission of election results electronically.

The senate passed the bill on Thursday but approved that the “Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) must certify that national coverage is adequate and secure while the national assembly must approve before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can transmit election results”.

However, the lower chamber approved that “the Commission may transmit results of election through electronic means where and when practicable”.

The bill was passed after the minority caucus staged a walkout.

Earlier when the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill was done, the house skipped clause 52 to be revisited after all other clauses had been considered.

After the clauses of the bill were considered, Ndudi Elumelu, minority leader of the house, raised a point of order that clause 52 of the bill which stipulates the method of transmission of result be considered.

But Idris Wase, deputy speaker who presided over the sitting, said the clause can only be reconsidered if a motion of rescission on it is moved.

Elumelu argued that there was no need for rescission since the clause was not ruled on.

However, Wase said the decision on clause 52 had already been taken.

At this point, the minority caucus protested and walked out of the chamber.

TheCable had reported how chaos erupted at the green chamber during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.