The House of Representatives yesterday passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, amid a walkout staged by opposition members, with the controversial Clause 52(2) intact, adding that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “may transmit results of the election through electronic means where and when practicable”
Yesterday, when the clause-by-clause consideration of the bill was being done, the deputy speaker, Idris Wase, who presided over the sitting, skipped clause 52, and said it would be revisited after all other clauses had been considered.
After the clauses of the bill were considered, Ndudi Elumelu, Minority Leader of the house, raised a point of order that clause 52 of the bill which stipulates the method of transmission of result be considered.
But Wase, said the clause could only be reconsidered, if a motion of rescission on it was moved.
Elumelu argued that there was no need for rescission, since the clause had not been ruled on.
However, Wase said the decision on clause 52 had already been taken.
At this point, the minority caucus protested and walked out of the chamber.
The bill should have been passed on Thursday but for the rowdy session which later led to some lawmakers engaging in physical combat.
Addressing journalists, alongside other opposition lawmakers after staging a walkout, Elumelu stated categorically that the man that spoke on behalf of the NCC told lies.
He stated: “I am happy that you are asking this question and that informs why I stood up to ask him whether this is his usual person because, in our opinion, he was telling lies. And because he was telling lies, I brought up an Act that gives room for funds to be made available for places not served by the USPF. And he agreed 100 per cent that I was correct.
