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By Seyi Babalola
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has stated that the Senate will not be intimidated and will do what is necessary to provide Nigerians with an Electoral Act that promotes democracy.
He explained that the controversy over Section 60 (3) of the Electoral Act was needless because the modification process was still ongoing and had yet to be concluded.
Akpabio said, “We have not passed the votes and proceedings; there is still harmonization but people are already on television sitting on panels abusing the Senate for something that is yet to be completed.
“We have not completed it until we look at the votes and proceedings. When we bring out the votes and proceedings, any senator has the right to rise up to amend it.
“We can amend anything before we approve votes and proceedings. Why abuse the Senate when what we have is incomplete?
“I can’t talk until they tell me drop the gavel. In this case, we are yet to complete the process. Why are people setting up panels on TV stations and abusing us? I leave them to God.”
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In a veiled reference to comments made on television by the Chief Executive of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, PLAC, Clement Nwankwo, over the controversy, Akpabio said, “We will not be intimidated but do what is right for Nigeria and not that of one NGO. Retreats are not lawmaking.
“Why do you think that the paper you agree in Lagos must be what must be approved? I must state clearly that there is no fog or mist in the insinuations.”
While explaining what happened during plenary, the Senate President said, “…All we said is remove the words ‘real-time’ to allow INEC decide the mode of transmission. If you make it mandatory and there is failure of system, there will be catastrophe.
“So, the door is still open for ADC, APP and any other to make adjustments. There is the conference committee and the votes and proceedings, which must be approved before the amendment is passed.
“Real-time means that there will be no election results in nine states where there is no network, or any part of the country where there is grid breakdown, it means there is no election.
“Technology must save and not endanger democracy. You put real-time in law when you don’t even have electricity in your community.”
