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Electoral Act: Reps Fight Over e-Transmission Of Results
Row over the consideration and passage of the Electoral Act Amendment, yesterday, spread to the lower chambers of the National Assembly as members of the House of Representatives engaged themselves in exchange of blows.
The Chairman of the Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Ashatu Dukku, after presenting the report of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2021, urged the House to consider and pass the bill for the smooth conduct of free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria.
The House quickly dissolved into a Committee of the Whole presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, for the clause-by-clause consideration of the amendment bill.
Mid-way into the exercise, the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwu (PDP-Enugu) raised a point of order over clause 52 (2) of the amendment bill, saying that the clause should be amended to read that there shall be electronic transmission of all election results.
The amendment was duly seconded by the Deputy Whip, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
At this juncture, Wase expressed divergent opinion, and said that the amendment may not be in the best interest of the nation as many rural communities do not have up to 20 per cent access to electronic devices for it.
He said, “I make bold to say that only less than 20 per cent of my constituency has network coverage”.
When the motion was put to vote, the “ayes” were clearly louder but the deputy speaker ruled in favour of “nays”.
The action drew the anger of the lawmakers and commotion ensued.
When calm returned to the chambers, the deputy speaker complained that some of his colleagues insulted him.
“We have legal rights to canvass issues and lobby each other. I take exception to those who came in here to insult me”, he stated.
However, Wase’s explanation could not abate the situation as members continued their opposition to his ruling against the adoption of electronic transmission of results.
In the midst of the heated arguments, Hon. James Faleke moved an amendment that, “results should be transmitted both electronically and manually” but was shouted down.
Speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, intervened, and advised the deputy speaker to accommodate as many amendments as he can but this fell on deaf ears.
But leader of the House, Hon. Alhassan Ado Doguwa, countered the speaker, reasoning that once an issue has been ruled on by the presiding officer, it cannot be resurrected.
Surprisingly, Wase, who presided over the session, said that the ‘nays’ had it, thereby throwing the House into a rowdy session.
Immediately he hit the gavel in his infamous ruling, many of the lawmakers moved up from their seats to that of the presiding officer to register their anger.
Some of the lawmakers, particularly of the opposition Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) were heard shouting no! no! no! at the chambers.
It took the intervention of the Speaker, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, who was seated at the first row at the chamber, to calm the lawmakers’ frayed nerves.
Gbajabiamila had told the House that it was imperative to get it right in this issue of amendment to the nation’s electoral laws.
He advised that the House to rule on the position canvassed by a member, Hon. James Faleke, to the effect that those who want manual transmission of results vote separately from those who want electronic transmission of results.
But the speaker’s counsel was not acceptable to the House Leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa, who immediately stood up, and countered the speaker’s position.
He said that the ruling of any presiding officer of the House on any issue was sacrosanct, adding that on this issue, the deputy speaker had ruled.
The deputy speaker, who later addressed the House amidst the crisis generated by the ruling, said that he was surprised that the lawmakers would behave the way they did on the matter.
He said, “I take exception to the conduct of some members who came here and abused me. It happened.
“If we have to transmit election results electronically, what happens to the farmers in rural areas in Plateau and Kebbi states?”.
But the lawmakers did not agree with the presiding officer as many of them left their seats to consult their other colleagues on the matter, and the rowdy session lingered.
So many other lawmakers later moved over to the presiding officer’s seat, and staged a protest to register their grievances on the ruling.
In the midst of it all, Hon. Yusuf, Mark Gbillah, Chudy Momah and a host of others made physical advances at each other.
Gbajabiamila, who participated in the voting from the floor, took over the proceedings, and announced the adjournment of the House till 10am today for continuation of the voting on the amendment bill.
The governor has also pledged to upgrade the Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Bille with a view to addressing the health challenges confronting the community.
Fubara made the pledge on Wednesday at the Government House, Port Harcourt during an enlarged meeting of key stakeholders, comprising representatives of the Federal Government, the state government and leaders of the community.
The meeting was held to review the situation in the community and explore available opportunities to save the people from the adverse impacts of environmental pollution.
Addressing the journalists at the end of the meeting, the governor acknowledged the determination of the Federal Government and its agencies to get to the root cause of the problem in Bille and ensure that it is resolved permanently.
“The meeting is in respect of the situation in Bille. You’re aware that there is a case of gas leakage somewhere in Bille and the people have been making some requests that the government should come to their rescue to resolve the situation.
“As a state, we have gone to see the situation in the community, not alone but in conjunction with the industry operators and officials of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources. What we are doing today is an enlarged meeting where all the parties are sitting together to look at the cause of the issue and the most possible way to get the problem resolved,” he said.
Fubara described the outcome of the meeting as successful, stressing that more action would be taken in the next couple of weeks to ensure that the issue is fully resolved.
The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon Ekperikpe Ekpo, who led the Federal Government’s delegation to the meeting, expressed appreciation to the governor for his warm hospitality and efforts to address the challenge in Bille community.
Ekpo explained that contrary to the perception in certain quarters, the Federal Government has not been silent over the “gas seepage” but has been working tirelessly towards finding a sustainable solution.
The minister explained that as soon as the incident was reported, the Federal Government deployed experts to the area to understudy the cause of the problem.
According to him, it was difficult at first to understand the cause of the problem since there were no oil or gas infrastructure within the vicinity of the incident, hence the need to conduct a more detailed investigation.
“The investigation is still going but we decided to do a follow-up visit to the area to talk to the people of Bille Community that we need collaboration on their part so that we would be able to arrive at a lasting solution.
“The safety of the people is paramount. We can understand their anxiety, the worry and the danger that this thing poses within the area, but the Federal Government is committed to finding a lasting solution to the problem. The primary responsibility of government is to take care of the welfare and security of the people and that is exactly why we are here to go and see things for ourselves,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, also explained that as the regulatory agency at the centre of the issue, no effort will be spared in the task of resolving the issue.
Eyesan pledged that the NUPRC and operators in the industry were prepared to address the requests of the impacted people in terms of the provision of potable water and fire trucks to the community.
The Public Relations Officer, Council of Chiefs, Bille Kingdom, Chief Rena Dappa, had during the meeting, presented the challenges facing the community and pleaded for government’s support to save the lives and livelihoods of the people.
The President stated that the scheme is aimed at creating jobs, closing the country’s metering gap and improving electricity supply.
The President disclosed this in a statement on his verified X handle yesterday, describing the initiative, tagged “The Power Force,” as part of his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to expand employment opportunities for young people.
According to Tinubu, the programme will equip participants with practical technical skills and connect them to employment opportunities in Nigeria’s power sector.
“Through the Presidential Metering Initiative (PMI), which I established to close Nigeria’s metering gap, end estimated billing, protect consumers and strengthen the electricity market, we are opening a new pathway for 5,000 young Nigerians to be trained as meter installers and technicians under The Power Force. This programme is about jobs, skills and dignity,” he said.
Tinubu said the training would be open to eligible Nigerians who have completed their secondary school education, with a dedicated quota reserved for members of the National Youth Service Corps.
He noted that expanding electricity metering was critical to improving service delivery and promoting transparency in the power sector.
“When homes and businesses are properly metered, Nigerians can pay for what they actually use. When electricity distribution companies collect revenues more transparently and fairly, they are better able to reduce losses, maintain infrastructure, expand connections and invest in better service.
“This is how we build a power sector that is fairer to consumers, stronger for investors and better able to deliver reliable electricity to the Nigerian people,” the President said.
Tinubu said he had directed the Presidential Metering Initiative to work with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria, and other relevant stakeholders to commence the programme within the next 30 days.
He encouraged qualified young Nigerians to apply, saying the initiative would provide them with marketable skills while supporting efforts to eliminate estimated billing and improve electricity access nationwide.
“I encourage eligible young Nigerians to apply. Join The Power Force. Learn a skill. Earn with dignity. Help us end estimated billing and be part of the work to light up Nigeria,” he added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued yesterday by its spokesperson, Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, the Air Peace-operated flight is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026.
It said the evacuation is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerians from South Africa.
“The third evacuation flight operated by Air Peace will depart Johannesburg today by 12 midnight with 271 returnees. The estimated time of arrival in Lagos is 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026,” the statement read.
The latest batch of returnees follows earlier evacuation flights that brought hundreds of Nigerians back to the country under the Federal Government’s voluntary repatriation programme.
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