Twenty-eight senators were “missing in action” when their colleagues voted on the means by which election results will be transmitted.
The provision for electronic transmission of election results is contained in section 50(3) of the electoral act amendment bill which was passed on Thursday.
The upper legislative chamber retained an amendment by Sabi Abdullahi, senate deputy whip, who proposed 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 electronically.
Albert Bassey, senator representing Akwa Ibom north-east, kicked against the motion and said the initial proposal made by the committee should be retained.
Advertisement
The recommendation of the committee read: “The commission may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable.”
To retain Abdullahi’s proposal, the senators had a 52-28 vote using the “division” method which is provided for in order 73 of the senate rule book.
Using this method, the clerk of the senate calls the name of each senator who then votes “Yes” or “No.”
Advertisement
While the ‘NO’ vote was to empower NCC to determine e-transmission of election results, the ‘YES’ vote was to retain the aforementioned section 50(3) as recommended by the committee.
But 28 lawmakers were absent when voting took place.
Apart from Ike Ekweremadu, senator representing Enugu west, who said he was attending a plenary session of the International Parliament for Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) in Montenegro, the rest did not give reasons for their absence.
Here is a full list of the absentee senators;
Advertisement
Senator | Constituency |
---|---|
Ike Ekweremadu | Enugu west |
Yaroe Binos Dauda | Adamawa south |
Stella Oduah | Anambra north |
Ifeanyi Uba | Anambra south |
Tokunbo Abiru | Lagos east |
Bala Na’Allah | Kebbi south |
Tolu Odebiyi | Ogun west |
Ibikunle Amosun | Ogun central |
Olalekan Mustapha | Ogun east |
Nicholas Tofowomo | Ondo south |
Teslim Folarin | Oyo central |
Buhari Abdulfatai | Oyo north |
Aliyu Wamakko | Sokoto north |
Ibrahim Shekarau | Kano central |
Lilian Uche Ekwunife | Anambra central |
Mohammed Bulkachuwa | Bauchi north |
Emmanuel Bwacha | Taraba south |
Mohammed Hassan | Yobe south |
Olubunmi Adetunmbi | Ekiti north |
Chimaroke Nnamani | Enugu east |
Rochas Okorocha | Imo west |
Mohammed Sabo | Jigawa west |
Barau Jibrin | Kano north |
Ibrahim Geidam | Yobe east |
Umar Sadiq | Kwara north |
Add a comment