By Ikenna Osuoha
The House of Representatives on Tuesday, passed the Electoral Act 2026 despite the rowdy session and consequent walkout by a group of opposition lawmakers.
Akin Rotimi, the spokesperson for the House told journalist that the Electoral Act was passed despite the walkout by some opposition lawmakers. Rotimi, who described the passage as historic, said that it had nothing to do with political party membership.
“Yes, the opposition staged a walkout, but it is on record that some of the opposition stayed back and voted for the passage,” he said.
The spokesperson said the decision of the house was for the progress of Nigeria.
According to him, if there are issues with electronically transmitting the results, then it will go manual.
He explained that there was no confusion in the amendment but a response to the yearnings of Nigerians.
Rotimi, however, expressed confidence in the country’s democratisation process, saying that the division in the house is the beauty of democracy.
Members of the minority Caucus in the House of Representatives had at an earlier press conference indicated its rejection of inclusion of the option for manual transmission of election results or any other means they said may give room for manipulation in the Electoral Act.
The Minority Leader, Rep. Kingsley Chinda who addressed the press conference said members of the minority caucus are fully in support of the electronic transmission of results.
“We are against any clause that will give room for manipulation; we are in full support of electronic transmission.
“We are also saying that electronically transmitted results should take precedence over manual transmission,” Chinda said.
He said that the minority caucus would not tolerate any attempt to violate section 84 of the Electoral Act that was prescribed for selection of candidates internally by political parties.
According to him, the section prescribes a method of selection of candidates as internal party affairs and not to force political parties into direct or indirect primaries or consensus. (NAN)
Source; PM News