Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has clarified that the Senate did not reverse the provision on electronic transmission of election results contained in the Electoral Act 2022.
Speaking on the recent deliberations at the National Assembly, Kingibe said the decision to retain the existing provision was taken collectively by the Senate and should not be interpreted as a rollback of earlier reforms.
On Wednesday, the Senate, during the consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, upheld the section of the law that allows for the electronic transmission of election results, as provided in the 2022 Electoral Act.
However, lawmakers rejected proposals seeking to mandate real-time transmission of results from polling units. The Senate also voted against a proposed 10-year ban on individuals found guilty of vote buying.
Instead, the red chamber resolved to retain the existing penalties under the law, which prescribe fines or jail terms for electoral offences such as vote buying.
Kingibe emphasized that the decisions reached during the legislative process reflected the collective position of the Senate, dismissing claims that lawmakers had weakened the electoral framework.
