It was a drama on the floor of the Nigeria Senate on Thursday as the Senate Committee Chairman on INEC, Kabiru Gaya (APC) Kano South made a U-Turn and voted against a clause that was agreed upon by his committee and recommended to his colleagues for consideration.
The drama started when the Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Aliyu Abdullahi (APC0 Niger North had during consideration of the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill report by the Senate proposed that Section 52(3) reads: “The Commission may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable” to read that “the Commission may transmit results of elections by electronic means provided that the network has been adjudged secured by the NCC and approved by the National Assembly.”
The amendment sought was upheld by the Senate after it was put to voice vote.
But, Senator Bassey Akpan (PDP) Akwa Ibom North also proposed an amendment that Section 52(3) of the Bill as contained in the Bill which reads: “The Commission may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable” be upheld.
Senator Akpan’s proposed amendment generated a heated debate and was later put to the individual’s vote as moved by the Minority leader of the Senate, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP) Abia South.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, raised a point of Order citing order 73 of the Senate Standing Orders.
He called for divisions of the Senate to enable Nigerians to know who opposed or supported the proposed amendment by Senator Akpan.
After a lot of back and forth, Lawan agreed the Senate be divided to determine the provision of Section 52(3).
Though the proposal was defeated when Senators voted, it was obvious that the voting was done based on regional line and party’s affiliation.
Meanwhile, the total votes cast was 80; 52 senators, mostly of APC were against the amendment, while 28 voted in support of the amendment while 28 senators were absent from the voting.
