Stella Oduah, senator representing Anambra north, says she
abstained from voting on the electronic transmission of election results
because she didn’t want to reject the work she was part of.
Oduah, a member of the committee on the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC), was among 27 senators who were absent when voting
was held.
The provision for electronic transmission of electronic
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 Nigeria Communication Communication (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,
had kicked against the motion and said the initial proposal made by the
committee should be retained.
The recommendation of the committee reads: “The commission
may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when
practicable.”
To adopt 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.
In a terse statement on Friday, Oduah said she abstained
from the voting by walking out of the red chamber because it would be “unjust”
if she rejects her committee’s work.
“We took time to arrive at that decision at the committee
meeting and coming to plenary to reject it will be unjust, that was why I
walked out,” the senator said.
“In as much as number is a very significant decider in
parliament, we should also take decisions having future projection and nation
development in mind.”
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