Senate Clash Over Proposal to Revisit E-Transmission Clause in Electoral Bill

Proceedings in the Senate on Tuesday were briefly halted after lawmakers clashed over a motion to revisit a provision on the electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026.

The tension followed a motion by Tahir Monguno, senator for Borno North, seeking to rescind the chamber’s earlier approval of Clause 60(3) of the bill. The clause sets out the framework for transmitting election results electronically.

Monguno said the request became necessary after further review of the bill revealed issues that required legislative correction. He argued that returning the clause to the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration would remove ambiguities and improve the legal clarity of the electoral process.

Relying on provisions of the Senate Standing Orders, he urged colleagues to allow the chamber revisit the clause to strengthen transparency in elections.

The motion was seconded by Abba Moro, Senate Minority Leader, who said electoral laws demand careful scrutiny because of their impact on democratic governance.

The debate turned heated when Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator for Abia South, raised a point of order, questioning the procedure being adopted. He insisted that the Senate could not revisit the clause in the proposed manner and argued that, at minimum, senators should vote individually on the issue.

Several lawmakers spoke at once as arguments broke out across the chamber over whether the motion was procedurally valid and whether it could create a precedent for reversing concluded decisions.

The exchange stalled proceedings for about ten minutes as the Senate leadership sought to restore order.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio repeatedly called for calm and urged senators to observe parliamentary rules. After order was restored, he asked Abaribe whether he wished to pursue his point of order formally. The Abia lawmaker declined, allowing plenary to continue.