After several years of wait, the senate has finally passed the electoral act amendment bill, thereby repealing the old 2010 electoral act.
Following the presentation of the report at the plenary by Kabiru Gaya, chairman of the senate committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the bill was passed for third reading at plenary on Thursday.
The main issues in the bill are the transmission of election results electronically and spending limits for candidates of political parties.
It has earlier been reported how the national assembly blocked the transmission of election results through electronic means in clause 50(2) of the bill.
However, following public outrage and criticisms, the lawmakers restored the electronic transmission clause.
But the electronic transmission of result comes with a caveat as during the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, Sabi Abdullahi, deputy senate whip, 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.
The passage was met with some resistance as Albert Bassey, senator representing Akwa Ibom north-east, kicked against the idea 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.
After a rowdy session and using a “division” voting method, the senate eventually retained Abdullahi’s amendment after a 52-28 vote.
The remaining 28 legislators were absent.
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