The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has criticised the Senate over its refusal to approve measures allowing electronic transmission of election results and the online download of voter cards, describing the move as a setback to credible elections and the efficiency of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The party’s position was made known in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi.
Abdullahi accused the Senate of undermining electoral credibility by rejecting key reforms to the Electoral Act, warning that the decision could erode public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The ADC also faulted the Senate for reducing election notice periods and shortening the timeframe for publishing the list of candidates, urging Nigerians to oppose the changes. It called on the Electoral Act Conference Committee to reverse the Senate’s decision and adopt amendments that reflect the will of the people.
“The senate also voted against key reforms that would have allowed for the electronic download of voter cards from the INEC website.
“They reduced the notice period for elections and shortened the timeline for the publication of candidates’names from 150 days to 60 days,” it said.
According to the party, the rejected provisions were designed to introduce safeguards against electoral malpractice and rebuild voter confidence.
“As Nigeria’s leading opposition party, the ADC unequivocally condemns this retrogressive action of the senate and calls on all Nigerians to reject it,” the statement said.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio countered the claims during Wednesday’s plenary, insisting that the Senate did not vote against electronic transmission of election results.
He explained that lawmakers retained Clause 60 on electronic transmission as earlier proposed.
“The social media is already awash with the fact that the senate has rejected electronic transmission. That is not true.
“Electronic transmission has always been in our hearts. And what we did was to retain the electronic transmission, which has been in our hearts, and which was used in 2020.
“So, please, do not allow people to confuse you. If you are in doubt, we will make our final votes and proceedings available to you if you apply and you are entitled, so that you’ll see.
“This senate, under my watch, has not rejected electronic transmission of results. It’s in my interest as a participant in the next election for such to be done.
“So, please don’t go with the crowd. We have retained what was in the previous provision. That’s all we did,” Akpabio had said.
