Photo: Tope Brown
On Thursday, the senate passed the electoral act amendment bill — but not without a heated debate.
The contentious issues in the legislation are the transmission of election results electronically and spending limits for candidates of political parties.
The lawmakers spent more than three hours considering over 100 clauses of the bill, and the majority of the senators succeeded in empowering the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to determine the electronic transmission of electoral results.
The legislation is seeking to repeal and re-enact the 2010 electoral act, which has been under consideration for years.
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During the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, Sabi Abdullahi, deputy senate whip, proposed that the 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 electronically.
But Albert Bassey, senator representing Akwa Ibom north-east, kicked against the motion and said the initial proposal made by the committee should be retained.
“The commission may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable,” section 50(3) of the report reads.
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This led to a rowdy session which lasted about 20 minutes.
After the rowdiness and the use of a “division” voting method, the senate eventually retained Abdullahi’s amendment after a 52-28 vote.
Twenty-eight legislators were absent.
While the ‘NO’ vote was to empower NCC determine e-transmission of electoral results, the ‘YES’ was to retain the aforementioned section 50(3) as recommended by the committee.
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All APC senators on the floor voted “NO”.
Here is how they voted:
| SENATORS | VOTE |
|---|---|
| Robert Ajayi Boroffice | NO |
| Francis Fadahunsi | YES |
| Ajibola Basiru | NO |
| Clifford Ordia | YES |
| Matthew Urhoghide | YES |
| Francis Alimikhena | NO |
| Kola Balogun | YES |
| Hezekiah Dimka | NO |
| Abubakar Kyari | NO |
| Gyang Istifanus | YES |
| Nora Ladi Dadu’ut | NO |
| George Sekibo | YES |
| Ali Ndume | NO |
| Opeyemi Bamidele | NO |
| Biodun Olujimi | YES |
| Mpigi Barinada | YES |
| Betty Apiafi | YES |
| Gobir Abdullahi | NO |
| Abdullahi Danbaba | YES |
| Philip Aduda | YES |
| Chukwuka Utazi | YES |
| Mohammed Goje | NO |
| Yusuf Yusuf | NO |
| Isa Shuaibu Lau | NO |
| Bomai Ibrahim Mohammed | NO |
| Francis Onyewuchi | YES |
| Yau Sahabi | NO |
| Uba Sani | NO |
| Danjuma La’ah | YES |
| Kabiru Gaya | NO |
| Elisha Abbo | NO |
| Ahmed Baba Kaita | NO |
| Adamu Aliero | NO |
| Yahaya Abdullahi | NO |
| Yakubu Oseni | NO |
| Isa Jibrin | NO |
| Smart Adeyemi | NO |
| Ibrahim Oloriegbe | NO |
| Oluremi Tinubu | NO |
| Solomon Adeola | NO |
| Tanko Al-Makura | NO |
| Godiya Akwashiki | NO |
| Abdullahi Adamu | NO |
| Musa Mohammed Sani | NO |
| Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi | NO |
| Bima Enagi | NO |
| Ayo Akinyelure | YES |
| Ovie Omo-Agege | NO |
| Peter Nwaoboshi | NO |
| Kashim Shettima | NO |
| Akon Eyakenyi | YES |
| Frank Ibezim | NO |
| Bello Mandiya | NO |
| Suleiman Abdu Kwari | NO |
| Hassan Ibrahim | NO |
| Amos Bulus | NO |
| Obinna Ogba | YES |
| James Manager | YES |
| Gershom Bassey | YES |
| Seriake Dickson | YES |
| Jika Haliru | NO |
| Albert Bassey | YES |
| Aishatu Ahmed | NO |
| Eyinnaya Abaribe | YES |
| Christopher Ekpenyong | YES |
| Cleopas Zuwoghe | YES |
| Emmanuel Orker-Jev | YES |
| Lawal Gamau | NO |
| Sam Egwu | YES |
| Michael Nnachi | YES |
| Lawali Anka | NO |
| Stephen Odey | NO |
| Sandy Onor | YES |
| Kabir Barkiya | NO |
| Danladi Sankara | NO |
| Oyelola Ashiru | NO |
| Aderele Oriolowo | NO |
| Orji Uzor Kalu | NO |
| Biobarakuma Degi-Eremienyo | NO |
| Alkali Saidu | NO |
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