Senate Votes to Retain Manual Backup in Electoral Bill

During a plenary session on Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate approved the retention of a manual backup clause in the electoral bill, which allows for manual collation of results. This decision followed a contentious debate, resulting in a vote where 55 senators favored keeping the manual backup option.

Enyinnaya Abaribe, alongside 14 other senators, opposed this clause, insisting on the necessity of mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results. Notable senators who voted against the manual backup include Natasha Akpoti (PDP, Kogi Central), Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), and Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West).

The discussions highlighted the ongoing controversy surrounding the electoral process in Nigeria, as lawmakers grapple with balancing technological advancements in election management with traditional methods.