BREAKING: Electronic result transmission amendment tears Senate apart

There was pandemonium on the floor of the Senate on Thursday over the mode of transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) on Election Day.

The commotion started when the red chamber attempted to amend Clause 52 (3) of the new Electoral Act.

Earlier, the joint National Assembly Committee on INEC and Electoral Matters has recommended that INEC should reserve the power to transmit results by electronic means where applicable on the day of election.

However, Senator Sabi Abdullahi, representing Niger North,  said that the power to determine the practicability of electronic transmission should be saddled with the Nigerian Communications Commission, (NCC) with the approval of the National Assembly.

There was heighten tension when the Senate President, Ahmed Lawal put the amendments sought by Abdullahi to voice vote and he ruled in favour of the Niger Senator.

Lawan’s action further increased the anger of many senators, mostly from the southern part of the country and this led to a stalemate that lasted over 20 minutes.

The development forced the Senate President to call for a closed session.