Umeh says more than 85% of senators backed electronic transmission of results
Senator representing Anambra central,
Victor Umeh, has said over 85 percent of senators supported electronic transmission of election results during deliberations on the Electoral Act amendment.
On Wednesday, the senate retained the provision for electronic transmission of results as contained in the Electoral Act 2022.
The red chamber, however, rejected proposals for real-time transmission of results and a 10-year ban on vote buyers, opting to keep existing penalties of fines or jail terms.
The clarification followed public criticism after reports suggested lawmakers rejected electronic transmission and tougher sanctions for electoral offences.
Speaking on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’, Umeh said claims that the senate rejected electronic transmission misrepresented the chamber’s decision.
“It takes a process to make a law. A bill must go through readings, public hearings and consultations before debate and passage. Law is not made by the national assembly alone. It is made by carrying Nigerians along,” he said.
Umeh said that the disputed nature of the 2023 elections heightened public expectations that the amended electoral law would strengthen credibility and public confidence in future polls.
“It is good to say that in all these retreats, all these zonal public hearings, all the consultations and joint sessions we had, one issue received unanimous approval and demand from the public, and that is to amend Clause 60 of the Electoral Act of 2022 as it affects transmission of results.
“It is based on these that all the stakeholders decided that this amendment will provide for the electronic transmission of results, so that where there is a dispute again, the court will not say that it is unknown to law,” he said.
