We Agreed On Real-time Electronic Transmission Of Election Results – Senator Abaribe

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Senate Minority Caucus on Thursday February 5, 2026, dismissed claims suggesting that the Senate rejected the electronic transmission of election results.

This is as the Minority  Caucus leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, informed that the harmonization process between the versions passed by the House of Representatives and the red chamber of the National Assembly is underway.

According to Abaribe, Senators across party lines based on their conviction that transparent, free and fair elections are the foundation of democracy opted for the real-time electronic transmission of election results..

“If results are not transparent or the process is distorted ,then it is no longer a democracy” Abaribe stated.

The clarification is coming against the backdrop of the widespread and defeaning indignations that have continued to trail reports that the Senate has thrown overboard the real-time electronic transmission of election results during its debate on the amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act.

The Source reports that not a few Nigerians who had anticipated that the adoption of the real-time electronic transmission of election results as part of the Electoral Act amendment would stem the tide of election riggings and other electoral malfeasance were disappointed with reports that the Senate has opted to maintain the status quo which makes the process optional rather than compulsory.

But at an interactive session with the Media on Thursday Senator Abaribe representing the Abia South Senatorial District , insisted that the Senate after all did not vote against the electronic transmission clause.

According to him, the Senators rather than jettisoning the clause as being reported ,only fine tuned the process by making it clearer unlike what was originally provided in the Act.

“Since yesterday, the media has been awash with reports suggesting that the Senate rejected the electronic transmission of results. That is not correct.

“To put the record straight, the Senate did not; I repeat did not , reject electronic transmission of election results as provided for in the 2022 Electoral Act.

“What the Senate passed is a clear provision for the electronic transmission of results , replacing the vague term transfer used in the 2022 Electoral Act which was susceptible to misinterpretation”, Abaribe stated.

He emphasized that the Senators are always guided by the fact that they are at the National Assembly based on the people’s trust ,and as such will not want  to act in ways that may erode public confidence.

“We came here under the trust of our Senatorial districts. When it appears that our actions have been misunderstood, it becomes necessary to clarify exactly what happened.

Recalling all the processes that culminated in the passage of the bill, Senator Abaribe noted that all necessary machineries and consultations were made at both chambers of the National Assembly

“At plenary yesterday (Wednesday), we passed the electronic transmission of results. However, because of movement, and noise in the chamber, it appeared to some that something went wrong”, the Minority Caucus leader noted.

He,  however, stated that Senators later  confirmed and were  reassured that the the electronic transmission clause was actually passed.

According to him, a video clip also showed the Senate President attesting to the passage of the electronic transmission clause.

Further speaking, Senator Abaribe assured that the situation will be reconciled when the two chambers of National Assembly meet to harmonize the bill.

“The role of the Harmonisation Committee is to reconcile differences between both versions and produce a single document for Presidential assent.

“At Harmonisation Committee level, it is either you adopt the House of Representatives’ version or that of the Senate.

“After plenary yesterday, we adjourned without adopting the votes and proceedings, Under our rules,  harmonization cannot begin without the adoption of votes and proceedings”, Abaribe added.

This is as he assured that the the real situation will be accurately reflected when the Senate reconvenes to adopt the votes and proceedings.