Akpabio Gives Sly Response To Nigerians Criticizing Him Over Electoral Bill
Akpabio Gives Sly Response To Nigerians Criticizing Him Over Electoral Bill
President of the Nigeria’s senate, Godswill Akpabio has responded to allegation that he altered the 2022 electoral amendment bill passed by the senate.
The senate leadership came under immense criticism following the report that the senate failed to make mandatory electronic transmission of results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing electoral amendment.
According to report, the section 60 subsection 3 of the 2022 electoral act which grants INEC the discretion to determine whether or not to transmit election results electronically, remains unchanged amid claims by some senators that the section has been amended to make electronic transmission of results compulsory for INEC in line with the yearning of Nigerians who seek greater electoral transparency.
Senate president Godswill Akpabio while speaking yesterday at a book launch titled: ‘Burden of Legislators in Nigeria’ written by a former senator, Effiong Bob, allayed the fear of Nigerians over the electoral bill.
Godswill Akpabio called for calm, stating that the amendment of the electoral act is still inconclusive and within the powers of the national assembly to make changes.
“In this case, we are yet to complete the process. So why are people setting up panels in all television studios…and then people have become mouth legislators”, he stated.
Akpabio explained that the senate did not reject electronic transmission of votes as being reported. He said the harmonization committee comprising members of the house of representatives and the senate will review the bill clause by clause to ensure that what is passed by the senate is what is documented in the bill.
“When we bring out the votes and proceedings, any senator has a right to rise up and say ‘in clause three, this was what we agreed upon’. And if those who are recording verbatim disagree or agree, we amend it before we approve the votes and proceedings,” he said.
“That is the only time you can now talk about what the Senate has done or what the Senate has not done.”
Akpabio thereafter stated that the senate is committed to ensuring that the bill reflects the desires of Nigerians as well as ensuring that it is in the best interest of Nigeria for the sustainability of democratic growth of the country and improved electoral transparency.
“So please, do not allow people to confuse you. If you are in doubt, we will make our final votes and proceedings available to you if you apply. This Senate under my watch has not rejected the electronic transmission of results. It is in my interest as a participant in the next election for such to be done. So please don’t go with the crowd”.
