The Nigerian Senate has given conditions for the approval of the keenly contested electronic transmission of electoral results which seems to have divided the national assembly.
Africa Today News, New York gathered that Senators had yesterday voted publicly along party lines over section 52(3) of the electoral act amendment bill, which deals with electronic transmission of poll results.
At the end of voting, Senators numbering about 28 who were mostly from the opposition PDP voted for the original amendment in the report while 52 Senators mostly from the APC voted for the amendment as proposed by Senator Sabi Abdullahi.
The implication of this is that majority of Senators voted that INEC may consider electronic transmission provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by NCC and approved by the National Assembly.
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Earlier, the Senate was plunged into a rowdy session as the lawmakers contested the amendment of section 52(3) of the electoral act amendment bill.
The new amendment, which was sought by Senator Sabi Abdullahi from Niger state and seconded by Senator Ali Ndume, provided that INEC may consider electronic transmission so far the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by Nigeria Communication Commission and approved by the National Assembly.
The controversial amendment sharply divided lawmakers, plunging the session into a rowdy one.
The Senate President was unable to bring the chamber back to order, forcing the Senate to go into a closed-door session.
After the senate ended its closed-door session, Senate minority leader Senator Enyinaya Abaribe called for a division challenging the Senate President’s ruling on clause 52(3) on electronic transmission.
He said he wants Nigerians to know who is voting for what.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK