Twenty-eight senators were “missing in action” when their
colleagues voted on the means by which election results will be transmitted.
The provision for electronic transmission of election
results is contained in section 50(3) of the electoral act amendment bill which
was passed on Thursday.
The upper legislative chamber retained an amendment by Sabi
Abdullahi, senate deputy whip, who proposed that the Nigerian Communications
Commission (NCC) must certify that national coverage is adequate and secure,
while the national assembly must approve before the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) can transmit election results electronically.
Albert Bassey, senator representing Akwa Ibom north-east, kicked against the motion and said the initial proposal made by the committee should be retained.
The recommendation of the committee read: “The commission
may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when
practicable.”
To retain Abdullahi’s proposal, the senators had a 52-28
vote using the “division” method which is provided for in order 73 of the
senate rule book.
Using this method, the clerk of the senate calls the name of
each senator who then votes “Yes” or “No.”
While the ‘NO’ vote was to empower NCC to determine e-transmission
of election results, the ‘YES’ vote was to retain the aforementioned section
50(3) as recommended by the committee.
But 28 lawmakers were absent when voting took place.
Apart from Ike Ekweremadu, senator representing Enugu west,
who said he was attending a plenary session of the International Parliament for
Tolerance and Peace (IPTP) in Montenegro, the rest did not give reasons for
their absence.
Here is a full list of the absentee senators;
NO |
SENATOR |
CONSTITUENCY |
1 |
Ike
Ekweremadu |
Enugu
west |
2 |
Yaroe
Binos Dauda |
Adamawa
south |
3 |
Stella
Oduah |
Anambra
north |
4 |
Ifeanyi
Uba |
Anambra
south |
5 |
Tokunbo
Abiru |
Lagos
east |
6 |
Bala
Na’Allah |
Kebbi
south |
7 |
Tolu
Odebiyi |
Ogun
west |
8 |
Ibikunle
Amosun |
Ogun
central |
9 |
Olalekan
Mustapha |
Ogun
east |
10 |
Nicholas
Tofowomo |
Ondo
South |
11 |
Teslim
Folarin |
Oyo
central |
12 |
Buhari
Abdulfatai |
Oyo
north |
13 |
Aliyu
Wamakko |
Sokoto
north |
14 |
Ibrahim
Shekarau |
Kano
central |
15 |
Lilian
Uche Ekwunife |
Anambra
central |
16 |
Mohammed
Bulkachuwa |
Bauchi
north |
17 |
Emmanuel
Bwacha |
Taraba
south |
18 |
Mohammed
Hassan |
Yobe
south |
19 |
Olubunmi
Adetunmbi |
Ekiti
north |
20 |
Chimaroke
Nnamani |
Enugu
east |
21 |
Rochas
Okorocha |
Imo
west |
22 |
Mohammed
Sabo |
Jigawa
west |
23 |
Barau
Jibrin |
Kano
north |
24 |
Ibrahim
Geidam |
Yobe
east |
25 |
Umar
Sadiq |
Kwara
north |
|
|
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