The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has fired back at critics of the ongoing Electoral Act amendment, arguing that many are rushing to judgment before the legislative process has even reached its conclusion. Speaking in Abuja as the guest of honor at a book launch for Senator Effiong Bob, Akpabio addressed the growing controversy surrounding how election results should be handled in future polls.
The Senate President was firm in his stance that the Senate has not removed the provision for electronic transmission of results. He clarified that the lawmakers are merely questioning the specific requirement for “real-time” transmission rather than the technology itself. This distinction follows a wave of backlash from opposition parties and civil rights groups who fear that removing the real-time mandate could jeopardize the transparency of Nigeria’s elections.
Adding its voice to the debate, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) recently urged the Senate to make electronic transmission mandatory and unambiguous. In a public statement, the legal body expressed concern that leaving the method of transfer solely to the discretion of the electoral commission could weaken the legal framework of our democracy. They argued that such a move creates room for manipulation and leaves the process open to unnecessary confusion.
Akpabio, however, dismissed these concerns as premature. He suggested that those criticizing the Senate on national television do not fully grasp the intricacies of the lawmaking process. He pointed out that a bill remains a work in progress until the final Votes and Proceedings are reviewed and settled, meaning any public outcry at this stage is based on an incomplete picture.
For the Senate President, the current debate is a classic case of people reacting to a story before the final chapter is written. He maintained that the Senate’s goal is to refine the law, not to dismantle the progress made in digital election management. As the amendment process continues, the pressure remains on the National Assembly to ensure the final document meets the expectations of a public hungry for electoral integrity.
