The Senate has approved the electronic transmission of election results while retaining manual collation as a backup in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026.
The resolution followed a tense plenary session that culminated in a division on Clause 60 of the bill, which addresses the transmission and collation of election results.
A total of 55 senators voted to retain the controversial manual backup proviso, while 15 lawmakers opposed it. Among those who stood against the clause was Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South).
The red chamber had earlier passed the bill but later rescinded its decision and recommitted it to the Committee of the Whole after fresh concerns were raised over certain provisions.
Tuesday’s plenary was dominated by renewed debate over Clause 60, with Abaribe calling for a division on the clause, a move that sparked a heated exchange among lawmakers.
It would be recalled that Abaribe had attempted a similar move during an emergency plenary last week but later withdrew it, drawing criticism both publicly and within the chamber.
During the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio reminded colleagues of the earlier development.
“People were mocking you on social media,” Akpabio said, referring to Abaribe’s previous withdrawal of the motion.
Opposition senators, however, objected to the remarks and insisted that the matter was properly before the Senate for consideration.
With the latest vote, the Senate endorsed electronic transmission of election results while preserving manual collation as a contingency measure.
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