The representative of Anambra Central Senatorial District, Victor Umeh, said that 85 percent of Senators unanimously approved electronic transmission of election results in the proposed Electoral Act amendments, but not real time.
Umeh said this was contrary to public reports suggesting that lawmakers endorsed only a “transfer” of results.
The senator made this known when he featured on a Channels Television programme: “Politics Today,” on Thursday.
Umeh said the legislative process on the amendment was extensive and deliberate, involving first and second readings, zonal public hearings, consultations with stakeholders, and reports from a joint committee of the National Assembly.
He said: “It takes a process to make a law.
“A bill must go through readings, public hearings, and consultations before debate and passage.
“Laws are not made for the sake of it.
“They are made to solve problems.”
According to the senator, the amendment to Section 60 of the Electoral Act, 2022, dealing with the transmission of election results, emerged as a major public demand during consultations nationwide.
He noted that the issue became critical following the 2023 general election, which were widely disputed and eventually litigated up to the Supreme Court.
Umeh said: “During the presidential election cases, arguments were taken on whether results uploaded to the IReV portal had legal backing.
“The Supreme Court held that electronic transmission was not expressly provided for in the law and discountenanced such evidence.”
He said stakeholders agreed the law must be amended to provide for electronic transmission so courts would not again dismiss electronically transmitted results as “unknown to the law”.
He explained that both chambers of the National Assembly worked on the amendment independently, adding that the House of Representatives had already passed its version of the bill with clear provisions for electronic transmission.
According to him, when the Senate considered the bill in a closed executive session, there was overwhelming agreement in favour of electronic transmission of results.
He said: “Over 85 percent of senators agreed to electronic transmission.
“It was common ground.
“Even the ad hoc committee of the Senate agreed to it.”
Umeh clarified that the only modification agreed to during the executive session was the removal of the phrase “in real time” due to concerns about possible network challenges in some areas.
He said confusion arose during plenary when a motion was reportedly moved to replace the word “transmission” with “transfer” without debate.
He added: “It was only ‘real time’ that was expunged because of network issues.
“Transmission itself was never in dispute.
“There was no debate on (transmission) it.
“If debate had been allowed, it would have taken us back to the executive session where the issue had already been exhaustively discussed and resolved.”
Umeh argued that replacing “transmission” with “transfer” would render the provision meaningless.
He said: “You cannot talk about transfer to the IReV portal without electronic transmission.
“How do you transfer to a portal if it is not done electronically?”
Senator Umeh insisted that the Senate never agreed to revert to the wording of the 2022 Electoral Act, which referred to “transfer” of results.
Addressing public outcry over the development, Umeh said the reaction of Nigerians showed that the outcome of the plenary did not reflect what was debated and agreed upon.
He said that they expect a more credible and transparent electoral process.
However, he stressed that the legislative process was not yet complete as the Senate had not adopted its Votes and Proceedings from the sitting.
He said: “We have not finished.
“The Votes and Proceedings of yesterday have not been approved.
“It is only approved proceedings that go to the conference committee for harmonisation.”
Umeh expressed confidence that the issue would be resolved during the harmonisation process with the House of Representatives.
He said: “When we return to approve the Votes and Proceedings, the question will be asked whether it truly reflects what we did.
“I believe the agreed position on electronic transmission will be restored.”
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
