On Thursday, the Nigerian Senate passed the amended electoral bill amid disagreement and rowdiness.
The now amended bill now empowers the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the National Assembly (NASS) to determine when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should transmit election results electronically.
This was after attempt to secretly remove section 52(3) from the bill, which empowers the electoral body to determine the transmission of election results by electronic means where and when practicable, failed.
During plenary, the section was amended on the request of Deputy Senate Whip, Sabi Abdullahi, to now read that “The commission may consider electronic transmission provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.”
While fifty two lawmakers mostly belonging to the All Progressive Congress (APC) backed what Nigerians describe as muzzling the electoral body from conducting credible elections, twenty eight lawmakers mostly from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were opposing the amendment.
Below is the list of lawmakers who endorsed the amendment denying INEC power to determine the use of electronic transmission of election results. It excludes the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.
Ovie Omo-Agege
Peter Nwaoboshi
Mohammed Ali Ndume
Opeyemi Bamidele
Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir
Mohammed Danjuma Goje
Yusuf Yusuf
Bomai Ibrahim Mohammed
Sahabi Yau
Uba Sani
Kabiru Gaya
Ishaku Elisha Abbo
Amhad Babba Kaita
Adamu Aliero
Yahaya Abdullahi
Yakubu Oseni
Isa Jibrin
Smart Adeyemi
Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe
Oluremi Tinubu
Solomon Adeola
Tanko Al-Makura
Godiya Akwashiki
Abdullahi Adamu
Mohammed Sani Musa
Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi
Birma Mohammed Enagi
Senator Dadu’ut Ladi
Francis Alimikhena
Abubakar Kyari
Senator Surajudeen Ajibola
Robert Ajayi Boroffice
Orji Uzor Kalu
Aderele Oriolowo
Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed
Degi Eremienyo
Ashiru Yisa
Bello Mandiya
Hezekiah Dimka Ayuba
Frank Ibezim
Kashim Shettima
Stephen Odeh
Shaibu Lau
Alkali Saidu
Amos Bulus
Danladi Sankara
Hadejia Hassan Ibrahim
Suleiman Abdul Kwari
Abdullahi Barkiya
Jika Dauda Haliru
Lawali Anka
Lawan Gamau
Those who kicked against the approval of NCC and NASS before the electoral body, said to be independent, can transmit results electronically when and where practicable includes:
Enyinnaya Abaribe
Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi
Clifford Ordia
Matthew Urhoghide
Gyang Istifanus
George Sekibo
Biodun Olujimi
Mpigi Barinada
Betty Apiafi
Philip Aduda
Chukwuka Utazi
Ibrahim Abdullahi Danbaba
Danjuma La’ah
Francis Onyewuchi
Patrick Ayo Akinyelure
Kola Balogun
Eyankeyi Akon Etim
Christopher Ekpenyong
Seriake Dickson
Cleopas Zuwoghe
Emmanuel Orker-jev
Sandy Onor
Gershom Bassey
James Manager
Obinna Ogba
Sam Egwu
Nnachi Ama Micheal
Bassey Albert Bassey
Similarly, the same number of lawmakers who voted against NCC and NASS approval were absent on Thursday. They include:
Theodore Orji
Yaroe Binos Dauda
Stella Oduah
Ike Ekweramadu
Patrick Ifieanyi Uba
Tokunbo Abiru
Bala Ibn Na’Allah
Tolu Odebiyi
Ibikunle Amosun
Olalekan Mustapha
Nicholas Tofowomo
Teslim Folarin
Buhari Abdulfatai
Aliyu Wamakko
Ibrahim Shekarau
Lilian Uche Ekwunife
Gabriel Suswam
Abba Moro
Mohammed Bulkachuwa
Emmanuel Bwacha
Mohammed Hassan
Olubunmi Adetunmbi
Chimaroke Nnamani
Rochas Okorocha
Mohammed Sabo
Barau Jibrin
Ibrahim Geidam
Umar Sadiq
