Breaking : Senate Approves Electronic Transmission Of Election Results

The Senate has approved a proposal allowing the electronic transmission of election results directly from polling units.

This is sequel to a motion moved by the Chief Whip of Senate, Senator Mohammed Monguno, who urged the chamber to reconsider and reverse its earlier rejection of real-time electronic transmission of election results.

Last Wednesday, the Senate had retained provisions of the Electoral Act, 2023, which effectively limited the electronic transmission of results. However, with the adoption of the new proposal, lawmakers passed an amended Clause 60(3).

The amended clause permits the presiding officer at each polling unit to transmit election results electronically after Form EC8A has been duly completed and signed.

Under the approved provision, electronic transmission of results is allowed where the required technology is available and functional.

Hence in situations where electronic transmission is not possible or fails, the properly signed Form EC8A will serve as the primary and authoritative record of the election results.

The passage of the amendment generated debate on the floor of the Senate, with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe initially calling for a division on the matter before withdrawing his request shortly afterwards.

James Itodo, Edited By Grace Namiji