EditorNIGERIA’S Senate on Tuesday adopted clause 53 in the electoral amendment Bill which gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), discretion to determine modalities for transmitting election results and passed the amendment into law.
This followed the recommendation of the Conference Committee report on the electoral amendment Bill which stated that it is the duty of the electoral commission to determine the transmission of election results.
The upper legislative chamber had in July ordered Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to take charge of transmitting election results, against the position of the House of Representatives. This stirred the hornet’s nest as many criticized the directive.
Yahaya Abdullahi, Senate Leader who moved a motion for the chamber to rescind its earlier decision, noted that the amendment was necessary.
He said, “After a critical examination of the bill by the senate committee on INEC, some fundamental issues which requires fresh legislative action on the following clauses 43, 52, 63 and 87 were observed.”
“Desirous of the need to address the observations by the committee and make necessary amendments; and relying on order 1(b) and 53(b) of the senate standing order.”
Former governor of Kebbi State and currently a Senator, Adamu Aliero, had while making his submission in support of the amendment, noted that it would help to strengthen the country’s democracy, by promoting transparency in the electoral process.
His words, “This is a move that will deepen our democracy and a move that will make the electorate to vote according to their conscience. This will put paid to criminals having their way as people of questionable character can no longer be voted into power.
On clause 87 of the conference report which recommended direct primaries for political parties, the Senators had diverse views leading to heated debates.
Senate minority leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, said political parties should be allowed to use whatever method of primary election that suits them.
“The original situation was that the party was left with choices to determine what suits them,” Abaribe said.
Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele representing Ekiti Central Senatorial district supported direct primaries saying that it would give every member of a political party equal opportunity to vote for the candidates they like.
He added that indirect primary was anti-democratic.
“I like to mention specifically that in clause 87 that every card-carrying member of any political party should be able to vote and it is a way of giving power back to the people.”
Senator Smart Adeyemi representing Kogi West Senatorial district, opposed compulsory direct primaries, arguing that some political parties lack the capacity to do so.
He stated that it should be left for party executives to conduct indirect primaries.
When the Chamber resorted to the Committee of the whole, the bill was passed through a voice.
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