The Spokesperson for the House of Representatives, Akin Rotimi, confirmed on Tuesday that the electronic transmission of election results remains a mandatory requirement under the Electoral Act Amendment Bill recently passed by the National Assembly.
Rotimi made the clarification during an interview on Arise Television amid controversy surrounding the harmonisation of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill.
According to him, the requirement for electronic transmission is explicitly captured in the provisions approved by lawmakers.
Rotimi said, “Transmission of election results electronically is mandatory. It is clearly stated in the provisions passed by the National Assembly.
“It says the presiding officer shall electronically transmit the results from its polling unit to the IREV portal.”
The lawmaker explained that the House and the Senate had initially passed separate versions of the bill, with differences in certain clauses.
He said, “In December, the House of Representatives passed a version of the bill. The Senate also recently passed a version which differed in certain provisions.
“As per Senate rule and the House of Representatives standing order, it required that a committee be set up to be able to harmonise the positions, which included some members from the House and some members from the Senate.”
Rotimi disclosed that members of the conference committee met and extensively reviewed the disputed provisions.
“The members of this committee met and considered this provision extensively. But during the period while they were still meeting, INEC made the announcement of the electoral timetable,” he added.
