By Jude Opara, Abuja

The demand by most Nigerians for the introduction of electronic transmission of election results came to fruition on Tuesday as Nigerian Senate adopted the electronic transmission of election results. This was contained in the Conference Committee report submitted to the senate at plenary.

Clause 53 of the Electoral Amendment Act contains the electronic transmission of election results which also gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the clearance to transmit results without subjecting their discretion to any other organ or authority.

Recall that in the earlier passed amendment, the upper legislative chamber had inserted that before INEC could transmit the results electronically, they must have to get the clearance from the Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) as well as the senate.

However, it was not a smooth ride for the bill as some senators posed a heated argument in support of the earlier position, however, Senate President, Ahmed Lawan who presided over the plenary brought the issue under control.

In his contribution before the adoption in the Committee of the whole, former governor of Kebbi State, Senator Adamu Aliero urged his colleagues to support the amendment in order to strengthen democracy.

“This is a move that will deepen our democracy and a move that will make the electorate to vote according to their conscience. This will put paid to criminals having their way as people of questionable character can no longer be voted.”

But in his contribution, Senator Smart Adeyemi, representing Kogi West opposed the amendment on clause 87 which deals with direct primaries of political parties. He strongly advocated for some political parties who may not have the ability to organize direct primaries.

This position was countered by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central Senatorial districts who voted in support of every card-carrying member of a political party having the opportunity to vote for their aspirants.

He added that such mode of party primary would be more democratic than the indirect where only a few party executives vote for aspirants.

“I support this motion and like to mention specifically that in clause 87 that every card-carrying member of any political party should be able to vote and it is a way of giving power back to the people.

“This is not about any political party, every political party will enjoy this, therefore, let every party member have the opportunity to vote who they wanted.”

In corroborating the position, the Senator representing Oyo North, Abdulfatai Buhari said nobody should be afraid of electronic transmission adding that anybody who thinks he is popular need to be afraid of the system.

“Let’s practice democracy in accordance with the global best practices. I see no reason why anybody should be afraid of direct primaries as it goes to solve problems of aspirants.

Nevertheless, there was a contrary view as Senator Shuaibu Lau representing Taraba North called for caution in not tying political parties to any particular form of conducting primaries. He argued that the mode of conducting primaries should be at the discretion of political parties.

“I agree with amendment of clause 87 which has to do with political party primaries.

“We must, therefore, not tie parties to one way traffic of conducting primaries and not because there are beliefs that governors are hijacking parties and not free parties to democratically elect their leaders.”When the chamber went into the committee of the whole, the electronic means of transmitting election results was passed.Senate President, Ahmed Lawan said the position of the Senate on the electronic transmission of results will help boost the nation’s democracy.