EXTRA: For the first time in 2 years, senate uses electronic voting

For the first time since the inception of the eighth national assembly, the upper chamber decided its position on a matter on Tuesday by electronic voting.

Tuesday also marked the first time since the final year of seventh assembly that electronic voting was used at the plenary

The plenary session had started with the use voice voting to adopt the votes and proceedings of the previous legislative day, but it later switched to electronic voting, which was used in the confirmation of supreme court justices.

Mohammed Ndume, senate leader, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) government had brought change by using the card reader in 2015 general election, and it had now extended it to the senate via electronic voting.

Following the announcement by the senate leader, Ike Ekweremadu, deputy senate president, told his colleagues that they could only vote from their assigned seats by slotting in their cards in a provision made for it.

It appeared that most of the senators did not understand the procedure, as Ekweremadu repeatedly explained to his colleagues that they first had to slot in their cards to register before they could vote.

While voting on the confirmation of Justice Ejembi Eko, 39 senators registered but 38 voted yes to the confirmation.

For the confirmation of Justice Amina Augie, 40 senators registered but only 39 senators voted yes to the confirmation.

In previous assemblies, the electronic voting had been adopted but it was abandoned along the line. However, the senate adjourned plenary by resorting to its tradition of voice votes.

October 2014 was the last time the senate employed electronic voting in obtaining the opinion of lawmakers on an issue.