It was collectively passed — Ireti Kingibe says senate didn’t reverse e-transmission of results

Ireti Kingibe, senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says the senate did not reverse the provision on electronic transmission of election results contained in the 2022 Electoral Act.

On Wednesday, the senate retained the provision for electronic transmission of election results as contained in the Electoral Act 2022.

During the consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) bill, the red chamber also rejected proposals for real-time results transmission and a 10-year ban for vote buyers, opting instead to maintain existing sanctions of fines or jail terms.

In a post on X on Thursday, Kingibe, a member of the Labour Party (LP), said the provision was jointly agreed upon by committees of the senate and the house of representatives.

“The Senate did not reverse electronic transmission of results as provided in the 2022 Electoral Act,” she wrote.

Kingibe said the position on electronic transmission emerged from a consultative legislative process, noting that key stakeholders were all involved in the exercise.

“That provision was jointly agreed upon by the Senate and House committees. INEC and civil society groups were fully involved in the process,” she said.

The senator said deliberations at various legislative retreats supported electronic transmission of results.

“All retreats concluded that electronic transmission was the best option for Nigeria,” she said.

Kingibe dismissed reports suggesting a deviation from the agreed position.

“Any claim of deviation is a misunderstanding of what was collectively passed,” she added.

COURTESY: TheCable