Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has dismissed media reports suggesting the Senate rejected the electronic transmission of election results, asserting that lawmakers explicitly approved the measure to ensure real-time transparency.
Speaking at a media briefing at the National Assembly on Thursday, Abaribe—joined by 13 other serving senators—stated that his integrity and that of his colleagues were at stake. He clarified that the Senate’s intent was to move beyond the language of the 2022 Electoral Act by adopting “transmission” over the more ambiguous term “transfer.”
“I am concerned about reports in the media, and that is why we decided to make this clarification. What we passed is electronic transmission of results. I need to make this very clear,” Abaribe told reporters.
Abaribe explained that the distinction between the two terms is deliberate. He argued that “transfer” is vague, whereas “transmission” implies a direct, electronic movement of data from the polling unit to a central server in real time.
According to the Senator, the decision followed extensive consultations with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and civil society organizations (CSOs). He noted that a joint committee of the National Assembly had previously reached a consensus on the matter after several retreats.
“That report was considered during a closed-door session,” Abaribe said. “I can assure you, on my honour, that during the executive session, we all agreed on electronic transmission of results in real time. At plenary yesterday, we also passed it.”
The controversy arises as the Senate has yet to formally adopt the “Votes and Proceedings”—the official record of the previous day’s business. Abaribe noted that until these records are adopted, the bill cannot move to a conference committee for harmonization with the House of Representatives version.
“There is still one more step left. Until the Votes and Proceedings are adopted, the conference committee cannot take place. A huge number of senators across party lines are with us on this,” he added.
Senator Aliyu Ningi, who also spoke at the briefing, emphasized that the reform process began in 2024 and involved 27 different committee sessions. “Some of us find it very painful that public opinion is being pushed in a negative direction despite the work that has been done,” Ningi said.
Despite Abaribe’s assertions, the atmosphere during the actual clause-by-clause consideration at the plenary suggested a different outcome.
During the debate, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Mongunu, urged the chamber to retain the wording of the existing 2022 Act. He argued for the word “transfer” to be maintained, a move seconded by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently struck the gavel, affirming the retention of the existing provision and effectively expunging the word “transmission” from the proposed amendment.
As the Senate prepares to adopt its Votes and Proceedings in the next session, the discrepancy between the leadership’s floor ruling and the claims made by Abaribe’s group signals a potential showdown over the final wording of the Electoral Act amendment.
