The Senate Minority Caucus has alleged that the Electoral Reform Bill, passed by the Senate President Godswill Akpabio, was not the version approved by the Senate.
The Senators who made the clarification on Thursday at a press conference said that the bill they approved, had the mandatory transmission of results.
According to them, the Senate did not reject the electronic transmission of election results before passing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, contrary to widespread media report.
Speaking on behalf of the group, 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.
“We felt it would be necessary to make a clarification of what happened.
“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.
“What we passed and which the Senate President himself when he was doing clarification sitting on his chair is transmission of results .
” I need to make this very clear, everyone of us who is a senator and has the privilege to represent a senatorial district came her under the trust of their senatorial zone.
“The reason for us to go into closed session was so that we can tidy up all outstanding issues inside there and which when we now come back to plenary to pass it, we’ll pass it without rancour.
” I can assure you on the honour of all of us who are standing here that the senate electoral committee, Adhoc committee and senators at executive session unanimously agreed on the provision for electronic transmission of results, as contained in Section 65 of the bill. Transmit not transfer. What is on 2022 is transfer. We want a law that is clear, concise and unambiguous.
“At plenary 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 stated.
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.
The senator further explained that a harmonisation committee was set up because of differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill on issues such as timelines.
“The role of the harmonisation committee is to reconcile differences between both versions and produce a single document for presidential assent,” he explained.
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.”
Responding to questions on why an Ad hoc Committee was constituted despite the work of the standing committee, the opposition lawmakers explained that the Senate reserves the right to regulate its internal processes, noting that committee members were present to clarify issues during deliberations.
They maintained that the Senate leadership would ensure due process is followed and that the final document reflects the will of the legislature.
The caucus maintained that no harmonisation can lawfully occur until the Senate adopts the Votes and Proceedings confirming electronic transmission of election results.
