Electronic Results Controversy: Senate Minority Caucus Denies Claims of Rejection”

The Senate Minority Caucus on Thursday reaffirmed that the National Assembly did not reject the electronic transmission of election results in the recently passed Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, countering widespread media reports suggesting otherwise.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The clarification follows claims that senators had removed provisions for electronic result transmission and a 10‑year ban on vote‑buying and other electoral offenses from the bill.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio had earlier dismissed these reports as misleading, emphasizing that the chamber retained the electronic transmission provisions from the 2022 Electoral Act to avoid legal and operational ambiguities.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, former Senate Minority Leader Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said the caucus felt compelled to set the record straight following confusion during Wednesday’s plenary.

He stated, “Since yesterday, the media has been flooded with reports claiming that the Senate rejected electronic transmission of election results. That is incorrect. To be clear, the Senate did not—repeat, did not—reject electronic transmission as provided in the 2022 Electoral Act.”

Abaribe explained that real-time electronic transmission of results was approved on the Senate floor and clarified by Akpabio. “When our actions are misunderstood, it becomes necessary to explain exactly what happened,” he said, highlighting the trust constituents place in senators.

How Electronic Transmission Was Preserved
According to Abaribe, the joint Senate-House committee on electoral matters conducted multiple consultations with INEC and civil society organizations, where all parties agreed that electronic transmission was essential.

“At the end of these retreats, consensus was reached that electronic transmission of results was the way forward. This was reflected in the committee reports submitted to both chambers,” he noted.

An ad hoc committee chaired by Senator Sadiq Umar later reviewed outstanding issues, including electronic transmission, during a closed-door session to ensure the bill could pass plenary smoothly.

Abaribe said the provision was indeed approved and included in Section 65 of the bill, but floor movements and noise may have caused misperceptions. “During plenary, we passed electronic transmission of results. However, due to activity in the chamber, some may have thought otherwise,” he explained. Video recordings show Akpabio confirming the approval.

He added that a harmonization committee will reconcile differences between the Senate and House versions of the bill, but stressed that the Senate has not yet formally adopted the Votes and Proceedings—a prerequisite for harmonization. “Once the votes are adopted, the panel will decide whether to adopt the House version, the Senate version, or a combination of both,” Abaribe said.

He emphasized that support for electronic transmission spans party lines and is essential for transparent, free, and fair elections. “This is not a partisan issue. Senators across party lines agree because transparency is the foundation of democracy. Without it, the process cannot be considered legitimate,” he said.

The Minority Caucus concluded by reiterating that no lawful harmonization can occur until the Senate adopts the Votes and Proceedings confirming electronic transmission in the final bill.