The Senate is currently in a rowdy session considering the Electoral Amendment bill for passage.
There is a lot of disagreement among lawmakers over Section 52(3) of the bill, which deals with electronic transmission of results during elections.
Senators were already having the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill when they arrived at this section and the Senate Deputy Whip, Sabi Abdullahi, moved to amend it.
“The commission may consider electronic transmission provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly,” he proposed.
This sparked a lot of murmuring in the chamber, and Senate President Ahmad Lawan moved that they vote on the amendment.
When it was put to vote, the “nays” were louder than the “ayes” but Mr Lawan ruled in favour of the amendment.
Senator Bassey Akpan from Akwa Ibom moved that the clause be re-amended to the initial section as contained in the bill.
The Senate president called for another vote and, again, ruled in favour of Abdullahi’s amendment.
This elicited even greater arguments as unsatisfied lawmakers began to leave their seats shouting, making it difficult for either the Chief Whip or Senate president to control the lawmakers.
Lawan was eventually forced to call for an executive session after about 15 minutes of chaos.