Hon. Akin Rotimi, representing Ekiti North I Federal Constituency, has defended the Senate’s recent amendment to the Electoral Act, describing the move as a strategic decision made in the best interest of the Nigerian electorate.
Speaking Wednesday on Channels Television, Hon. Rotimi emphasized that the legislative shifts regarding the electronic transmission of results are a direct product of rigorous parliamentary due process and responsiveness to public feedback.
According to Hon. Rotimi, the evolution of the bill reflects a transparent legislative cycle involving committee-level reviews, input from civil society, and robust plenary deliberations.
“The Senate has acted in the best interest of Nigerians,” Rotimi stated. “It is part of the process for everyone to vent, express reservations, or look more closely at provisions. Nothing has been done outside of our standing rules or established constitutional mandates.”
The Senate’s amended position now permits the electronic transmission of election results but introduces critical safeguards to ensure the process remains resilient against technical failures.
Key highlights of the amendment include:
Electronic Transmission Approval: The Senate has formally approved the electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV).
Infrastructure Safeguards: To account for Nigeria’s varied internet landscape, the amendment removes the “real-time” mandate, allowing for flexibility in areas with poor connectivity.
The Fallback Mechanism: In instances of network failure or technical glitches, Form EC8A remains the primary instrument for collation, ensuring that no vote is lost due to a lack of digital infrastructure.
The lawmaker noted that the Senate’s decision to rescind its earlier rejection of compulsory electronic transmission demonstrates a willingness to “shift grounds” in alignment with the national desire for free, fair, and credible elections.
While the reliance on Form EC8A as a fallback has sparked debate among some lawmakers regarding dispute resolution, Hon. Rotimi maintains that the current framework provides a necessary balance between modernizing Nigerian elections and ensuring practical reliability.
