By Peter Adelowo
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has responded to critics of the Senate’s amendment of the Electoral Act, dismissing their concerns as premature and based on a misunderstanding of legislative processes.
Speaking at the unveiling of Senator Effiong Bob’s book, The Burden of Legislators in Nigeria, Akpabio clarified that the Electoral Act amendment is still under review, and public debate on the matter was inappropriate until the full legislative process is completed.
Akpabio specifically addressed the controversy surrounding the removal of the phrase “real-time” electronic transmission of election results.
He explained that the amendment was aimed at avoiding legal disputes related to network failures, stating that real-time transmission could invalidate results in areas with poor connectivity or security issues.
The Senate President emphasized that the Electoral Act amendment had not yet concluded the bicameral legislative process and would undergo further reconciliation between the Senate and the House of Representatives before being finalized.
He urged critics to allow the process to unfold, warning that imposing technology beyond the country’s infrastructure could endanger democracy.
Akpabio further defended the Senate’s position by highlighting that the 2023 elections, conducted under the current Electoral Act, were competitive and saw significant losses for the ruling party, proving the Act’s fairness and effectiveness.
