From Victor Osula, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, who emerged late to close the rowdy session following a rejection by many members of his Deputy, Ahmed Idris Wase’s refusal to entertain debate on electronic transmission of election result, postponed sitting to tomorrow, Friday.
According to him, the House would reconvene on Friday to hear submissions from the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu and the Executive Chairman of the National Communications Commission, NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, before taking a position on that aspect of the Electoral Act under consideration for amendment.
The Senate on Thursday had voted for the conditional electronic transmission of election results, after Senator Sabu Abdullahi, had raised the motion that the electronic transmission must be conditional on the readiness of the NCC to support INEC subject to the approval of the Senate.
The Committee on INEC had, in the report, recommended in Section 52(3) that, INEC “may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable.”
Senator Abdullahi, amended the clause to read, “INEC may consider electronic collation of results, provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secured by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.” His argument, which Lawan upheld was that Internet penetration is low in many parts of the country.
According to voting pattern which ensued after Minority Leader, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe had called for separation of Senators to make it glaring and a rowdy session had forced Senate President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan to call for recess, a list has emerged of those who voted for and against.
They include:
Robert Ajayi Boroffice YES
Surajudeen Basiru NO
Adenugba Fadahunsi YES
Clifford Ordia YES
Matthew Urhoghide YES
Francis Alimikhena NO
Kola Balogun YES
Ezekiel Ayuba NO
Abubakar Kyari NO
Gyang Istifanus YES
Senator Gyagung Ladi NO
George Sekibo YES
Ali Ndume NO
Opeyemi Bamidele NO
Biodun Olujimi YES
Mpigi Barinada YES
Betty Apiafi YES
Gobir Abdullahi NO
Abdullahi Danbaba NO
Philip Aduda YES
Chukwuka Utazi YES
Mohammed Goje NO
Danbaba YES
Yusuf Yusuf NO
Isa Shuaibu Lau NO
Mohammed Goje NO
Bomai Ibrahim Mohammed NO
Francis Onyewuchi YES
Yau Sahabi NO
Uba Sani NO
Danjuma La’ah YES
Kabiru Gaya NO
Ishaku Elisha Abo NO
Baba Kaita NO
Adamu Aliero NO
Yahaya Abdullahi NO
Yakubu Oseni NO
Isa Jibrin NO
Smart Adeyemi NO
Ibrahim Oloriegbe NO
Oluremi Tinubu NO
Solomon Adeola NO
Tanko Al-Makura NO
Godiya Akwashiki NO
Abdullahi Adamu NO
Musa Mohammed Sani NO
Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi NO
Bima Enagi NO
Patrick Akinyelure YES
FINAL VOTE FIGURES ON ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION
AYES: 28
NAYS: 52
ABSENT: 28
ABSTAIN: 0
TOTAL VOTES: 80
TOTAL NO. OF REGISTERED SENATORS: 109
(as announced by Clerk of Senate and validated by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan)
