The Nigeria Senate has passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
The bill was passed for third reading after the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Committee, Kabiru Gaya, presented a report at the plenary session.
One of the major issues in the legislation, was the electronic transmission of election results which almost tore the Senate apart that they resorted to voice votes to arrive at a consensus.
The voting which many say was along party lines, out of the one hundred and nine Senators, twenty eight voted yes, fifty two No and twenty eight others were absent.
The legislation which sought to repeal and re-enact the 2010 electoral act and has been under consideration for many years, in clause fifty two,/three, gave the Nigeria Communications Commission NCC, power to determine when to transmit election results electronically.
However in clause eighty eight of the legislation, the lawmakers tripled expenses for Presidential, Gubernatorial, Senate and House of Representatives elections by almost two hundred percent.
While pronouncing passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, expressed hope that Nigerians would understand and appreciate the efforts of the Senate, saying that those who voted for or against the bill, did so out of conviction for what they believe to be best for the country.
He assured Nigerians that what the Senate did was to show concern and care for the divergent views of Nigerians about election process as they all want to see an all inclusive process that is fair, equitable and just for all irrespective of where one resides in the country.
The Senate President pledged support for INEC at all times, and prayed that the Bill will guide the twenty twenty three general elections as it will provide data for an improved electoral process.
Later, the spokesman of the Senate, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, who briefed the press saying there is need for further clarification to make the people understand better.
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