By Emma Ogbuehi
Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has described the Senate’s reconsideration of its earlier stance on election transmission procedures as a vindication of the opposition’s resolute stance on the matter. Abaribe also expressed satisfaction with the senate’s endorsement of direct primary for political parties.
Members of the opposition in the upper law-making house, championed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had argued in favour of electronic transmission (e-transmission) in the country’s subsequent election when the principal electoral bill was debated culminating in the division of the floor. The All Progressives Congress (APC) – dominated chambers, insisted on the manual transmission.
But on Tuesday, October 12, 2012, the Senate bowed to pressure from Nigerians and empowered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the procedure for the transmission of results during the general elections.
The senate also approved direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions.
These were sequel to amendments by the Senate to some clauses of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) bill 2021, passed on July 15, 2021.
The chamber explained that the decision to subject the amended clauses of the bill to re-committal was reached after critical examination by the Senate Committee on INEC.
It added that some fundamental issues which required fresh legislative action were observed by the Senator Kabiru Gaya-led Committee in the bill.
Accordingly, the chamber in a motion for re-committal, re-amended certain aspects of the bill contained in Clauses 43, 52, 63 and 87, respectively.
The Senate also approved Clause 87 to read “a political party seeking to nominate candidates for elections under this bill shall hold direct primaries for aspirants to all elective positions, which shall be monitored by the Commission.”
Members of the Conference Committee on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2021, are expected to meet with their counterparts in the House of Representatives to harmonise the two versions passed by both chambers.
Reacting to the development, Abaribe who represents Abia South Senatorial District, enthused that “it means that power is returning to the ultimate owners, which is the people”. The Senator who spoke to our correspondent through his media adviser, Uchenna Awom, also lauded the Senate’s position on the direct primaries as being more democratic and all inclusive. “It will surely engender development”, he stated.