Minority Senators Clarify Position on Electronic Transmission in Electoral Bill

The Senate Minority Caucus has dismissed reports suggesting that the National Assembly rejected electronic transmission of election results in the recently passed Electoral Act amendment bill.

The clarification followed the Senate’s passage of the bill at plenary on Wednesday, amid widespread media interpretations of the outcome of the clause-by-clause consideration.

Addressing journalists on behalf of the caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe explained that electronic transmission remains firmly provided for under Section 60(3) of the amended Electoral Act. According to him, the provision clearly states that results from each polling unit shall be transmitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IREV) in real time, once the prescribed Form EC8 has been duly signed, stamped by the presiding officer, and countersigned by candidates or their polling agents present at the polling unit.

Abaribe stressed that at no point did the Senate vote to remove or invalidate electronic transmission of results, contrary to some reports circulating in the media.

The Minority Caucus further assured Nigerians that it would closely monitor the legislative process to ensure that the final version of the bill accurately reflects the resolutions and consensus reached during the clause-by-clause deliberations, as well as the official votes and proceedings of the Senate.