Senate Clears Air On e-transmission

Senate Clears Air On e-transmission

The Senate Minority Caucus moved on Thursday to clear the air after claims spread that lawmakers had dropped electronic transmission of election results while passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The clarification followed a wave of criticism that erupted a day earlier over reports that the Senate rejected e-transmission and tougher penalties for electoral offences.

Opposition senators said the reports were wrong and insisted the Senate kept electronic transmission exactly as provided in the 2022 Electoral Act.

Former Senate Minority Leader Enyinnaya Abaribe explained that confusion arose from misreading what happened during plenary, stressing that “Since yesterday (Wednesday), the media has been awash with reports suggesting that the Senate rejected electronic transmission of election results.

He said lawmakers, after joint committee meetings with the House of Representatives, INEC and civil society groups, agreed that e-transmission remained central to credible elections.

According to him, this agreement survived reviews by both the standing committee and an ad hoc panel, adding that “At plenary yesterday, we passed electronic transmission of results.”

Abaribe noted that a harmonisation panel will only step in after the Senate formally adopts its Votes and Proceedings, which must clearly reflect the decision on e-transmission.

He maintained that the issue cuts across party lines, saying “This is not a party matter,” and assured that the final bill would mirror the Senate’s decision once due process is completed.