Senator Ningi Calls for Transparent Voting Process on E-Transmission of Election Results
Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, has declared that the Nigerian Senate possesses the procedural capability to conduct its voting on the contentious issue of real-time electronic transmission of election results in a fully transparent manner. This statement comes amidst escalating public debate and dissatisfaction surrounding the recent amendments to the Electoral Act.
Television Interview Highlights Senate's Procedural Options
During a televised interview preceding an emergency plenary session, Senator Ningi addressed the possibility of allowing Nigerian citizens to witness how individual senators vote on the electronic transmission clause. He emphasized that the Senate's internal regulations make such openness feasible, contingent upon the decision of the presiding officer.
"I think it's possible. It depends on the presiding officer because the law provides for that," Ningi stated. "You can stand up and say, 'I, Ningi, I accept e-transmission in real time.' I sit down. It's recorded for every other senator, and that is the only way we need to move forward."
Addressing Confusion and Inadequate Briefing
The senator attributed part of the prevailing confusion to the handling of parliamentary proceedings, insisting that a thorough examination of official records is essential. He pointed out that the votes and proceedings from the relevant session have not been properly captured, necessitating a review.
"One thing that is very important is that the votes and proceedings have not been captured. So tomorrow, we need to look at what the votes and proceedings captured are," Ningi explained. He raised critical questions about the legislative process: "There was a motion for amendment by Manguno, and then the question was put. Who asked the question? Why was the question raised? Was it discussed?"
Ningi further revealed that senators were not sufficiently briefed before the decision was finalized. "One of the reasons why people are unhappy is that the Senate President should have asked us as a committee, 'Please, educate us on this issue that Manguno has raised,'" he added.
Dismissing Partisan Claims and Expressing Frustration
The lawmaker firmly dismissed suggestions that the controversy is driven by party politics, asserting his position with a sense of responsibility. "I'm here, and I'm telling you with all sense of responsibility that this is not a party thing. It has never been a party thing," Ningi declared. "If tomorrow the Senate President decides to say, 'Is it transfer or transmission?' and the gavel is sealed on transfer, then the majority have their way."
Ningi expressed profound frustration over what he perceives as unjustified condemnation of the entire Senate. "I feel so sad and outraged when I see people condemning the Senate in its entirety," he said. "That's why we need to tell the story. I can tell you that about 98 per cent of the senators agree with the position taken by the House."
Cross-Party Support and Senate's Controversial Decision
According to the senator, governors from both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have voiced their support for electronic transmission of results. "APC governors have made their submissions. PDP governors too. They are all saying e-transmission," he noted.
The Senate has faced intense criticism following its rejection of a proposal to mandate real-time electronic transmission of election results in the amended Electoral Act. The rejected clause would have required presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit polling unit results directly to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal immediately after signing.
Instead, the Senate opted to retain the existing provision, which allows results to be transferred "in a manner as prescribed by the Commission." Senate President Godswill Akpabio has defended this decision, explaining that the term "real-time" was removed to prevent potential legal complications in scenarios involving network failure.
"All we said was that we should remove the word 'real-time,'" Akpabio clarified. "If there is network failure and you go to court, someone will argue it ought to have been real-time."
Public Reaction and Ongoing Protests
Despite this justification, public discontent has manifested in protests within Abuja, where demonstrators are demanding that lawmakers explicitly incorporate "real-time electronic transmission" into the amended legislation. The controversy underscores a significant divide between legislative actions and public expectations regarding electoral transparency and integrity.
