The Senate has restated its backing for the electronic transmission of election results, while also approving a manual alternative to be used in the event of technical hitches.
At plenary on Wednesday, February 4, the upper chamber amended the Votes and Proceedings of the previous week to clarify its decision on Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill. The amendment followed a motion moved by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, which was subsequently adopted by the chamber.
Under the revised resolution, election results are to be transmitted electronically from polling units, but where technical challenges prevent successful transmission, the Senate agreed that Form EC8 — the official polling unit result sheet — will be used as the basis for collation, provided it is properly completed, stamped, signed by the presiding officer, and countersigned by party agents.
Following the adoption of the motion, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe moved a counter-motion calling for a division, which would have required individual voting on the contentious Section 60(3). The move, however, was short-lived, as Senator Abaribe withdrew the motion after Senate President Godswill Akpabio invited him to proceed with it.
The decision highlights the Senate’s effort to strike a balance between advancing technology-driven electoral reforms and putting safeguards in place to address possible technical disruptions on election day.
