*”Senate Did Not Reject Electronic Transmission Of Results” — Abaribe
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The Senate Minority Caucus has clarified that the Senate did not reject the electronic transmission of election results before passing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, contrary to widespread media reports.
However, major opposition parties have jointly criticised the Senate’s rejection of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units, warning that the decision could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections and weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.
The clarification by the Minority Caucus comes barely 24 hours after the upper chamber came under fire on Wednesday following reports that lawmakers had rejected proposals for the electronic transmission of results and a 10-year ban on vote buyers and other electoral offenders.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday, former Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the caucus was compelled to address what he described as a widespread misunderstanding of Wednesday’s plenary proceedings.
“Since yesterday, the media has been awash with reports suggesting that the Senate rejected the electronic transmission of election results. That is not correct,” Abaribe said.
“To put the record straight, the Senate did not — I repeat, did not — reject electronic transmission of results as provided for in the 2022 Electoral Act.”
He explained that what the Senate passed was the electronic transmission of results, a position which, according to him, was also clarified by the Senate President during plenary.
Abaribe stressed that senators hold public trust derived from the confidence reposed in them by their constituencies, adding that the caucus considered it necessary to address the issue in the interest of transparency.
“We came here under the trust of our senatorial districts. When it appears that our actions have been misunderstood, it becomes necessary to clarify exactly what happened,” he said.
He outlined the legislative process that led to the decision, beginning with the joint committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives on electoral matters.
According to him, the joint committee held several retreats within and outside Abuja, with the participation of the Independent National Electoral Commission and civil society organisations.
“At the end of those retreats, everyone agreed that electronic transmission of results was the way to go. That position was reflected in the reports presented to both chambers,” he said.
He noted that the process also involved extensive debates, public hearings, and consultations, describing electronic transmission of results as a core, non-negotiable provision.
Following the submission of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters’ report, Abaribe said an Ad hoc Committee was constituted to further review the report. The Ad hoc Committee, chaired by Senator Sadiq Umar, presented its findings, which were deliberated upon during a closed-door session.
“The closed session was held to tidy up all outstanding issues so that when we returned to plenary, the bill could be passed without rancour,” he explained.
According to him, the Senate Electoral Committee, the Ad hoc Committee, and senators at the executive session unanimously agreed on the provision for electronic transmission of results, as contained in Section 65 of the bill.
“At plenary yesterday, we passed the electronic transmission of results. However, because of movement and noise in the chamber, it appeared to some that something went wrong,” he said.
Abaribe added that senators later sought confirmation and were reassured, noting that video records also show the Senate President affirming that electronic transmission of results was passed.
However, he noted that the Senate has not yet adopted the votes and proceedings, a procedural requirement before harmonisation can commence.
“After plenary yesterday, we adjourned without adopting the votes and proceedings. Under our rules, harmonisation cannot begin without that step,” he explained.
Abaribe assured that the Senate would reconvene to adopt the votes and proceedings, insisting that it must accurately reflect the provision on electronic transmission of results.
“Only after that can the harmonisation committee meet. At harmonisation, you either adopt the House version or the Senate version — nothing else,” he said.
He reiterated that what the Senate passed was the electronic transmission of results in real time.
“This is not a party matter,” Abaribe added. “Senators across party lines agree on this because transparent, free, and fair elections are the foundation of democracy. If results are not transparent or the process is distorted, then it is not a democracy.”
The caucus concluded by reiterating that no harmonisation can lawfully occur until the Senate adopts the Votes and Proceedings confirming electronic transmission of election results.
Meanwhile, major opposition parties have jointly criticised the Senate’s rejection of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units in the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act.
In a joint statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Comrade Ini Ememobong; National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; and National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Bamofin Ladipo Johnson, the parties said the development had raised serious national concern and compelled them to jointly address Nigerians.
“The grave implications of this retrogressive act by the Senate has compelled us as spokespersons of the major opposition political parties to jointly address this issue, which is capable of derailing our hard-earned democracy,” the statement read.
The opposition parties questioned the ruling party’s stance on the matter.
“We are at a loss as to why a party that is currently deploying technology to run an e-registration of their members across the country is averse to using technology to transmit results,” the opposition parties said.
They further alleged that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which controls both chambers of the National Assembly, was seeking to preserve weaknesses in the electoral system that could be exploited during elections.
“They know Nigerians are fed up with them. They are aware of the rejection that awaits them at the forthcoming polls. A free and fair election has therefore become a threat to them. This is why they have to preserve and protect any loopholes that could aid the manipulation of the electoral process to their advantage,” the parties stated.
“However, regardless of their party affiliation, we would have expected the Senators to rise above party sentiments and act in the best interest of democracy, for which the legislature remains its most important symbol. But as usual, they failed the people they are supposed to represent.”
Referencing past judicial rulings, the parties noted that courts had previously held that electronic transmission of results was not expressly mandated under the Electoral Act 2022, describing the current amendment process as an opportunity to correct that gap and improve transparency in future elections.
“With this rejection, the Senate has returned Nigeria to square one. The ball is now in the court of the conference committee, and we strongly urge its members to align themselves with the Nigerian people by adopting the position of the House of Representatives on mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results,” they stated.
Shortly after reports of the Senate’s rejection went viral on Wednesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio had dismissed the claims as misleading. He maintained that legislators retained electronic transfer as provided under the 2022 Electoral Act, a distinction he said was necessary to avoid legal and operational ambiguities.
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