Deeply Saddened’ — Ningi Reacts To Electoral Act Crisis, Defends Lawmakers

The senator representing Bauchi Central, Abdul Ningi, has criticized the widespread condemnation of the Senate over the controversy surrounding the electronic transmission of election results.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Speaking on Channels Television on Monday, Ningi addressed the ongoing debate that followed the Senate’s third reading of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, stressing that the issue has been widely misunderstood.

According to him, an overwhelming majority of lawmakers support the electronic transmission of election results, noting that about 98 percent of senators are in favor of it. He added that the Senate has the capacity to make public the votes and proceedings on the matter to ensure transparency.

When asked whether it was possible for the voting process to be made public so Nigerians could see how each senator voted on real-time electronic transmission, Ningi said it was achievable, depending on the presiding officer.

“The law allows it,” he said. “A senator can rise and say, ‘I, Ningi, support real-time electronic transmission,’ then sit down. Each position would be recorded, and that is the proper way forward.”

He explained that a major issue was that the votes and proceedings were not clearly captured during the process, raising questions about whether the matter involved transmission or transfer of results.

“There was a motion for amendment by Manguno, and then the question was put. Who framed the question? Why was it raised that way? Was it properly debated?” Ningi asked.

He suggested that confusion might have been avoided if the Senate President had invited the relevant committee to clarify the amendment before it was put to a vote.

Ningi emphasized that the issue was not partisan, insisting that it had never been treated as a party matter, even during deliberations at the committee stage.

“This is not about political parties,” he said. “If the Senate President decides tomorrow to ask whether it is transfer or transmission and the majority supports transfer, then that becomes the decision.”

The lawmaker also expressed disappointment over what he described as blanket condemnation of the Senate nationwide.

“I feel deeply saddened and outraged when the entire Senate is condemned across the country,” he said. “That is why we need to explain what actually happened.

“I can confidently say that 98 percent of senators agree with the position earlier taken by the House. I don’t understand how this has been turned into a party issue. APC governors, PDP governors—everyone has submitted in support of e-transmission.”