- Do what Nigerians want, and leave the rest for INEC, Mark tells Senate
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio has declared that the upper chamber of the National Assembly will not be intimidated over the issue of real time transition of election results.
Rather, Akpabio stated that the Senate will do what is right to give Nigerians an Electoral Act that will advance democracy.
The Senate President made the declaration on Saturday in Abuja at the public presentation of the book “The Burden of Legislators in Nigeria” authored by Senator Effiong Bob.
At the book presentation, which had another Senate President, Senator David Mark as Chairman, Akpabio pointed out that the ongoing controversy over Section 60 (3) of the Electoral Act was unnecessary because the amendment process was still unraveling and yet to be completed.
His words,“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 our the votes and proceedings, any Senator has the right tor rise up to amend it.
“We can amend anything before we approve Votes and Proceedings. Why abuse the Senate when what we have is incohare, when it 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”, he said.
Continuing, Akpabio said, “We will not be intimidated but do what is right for Nigeria and not that of one NGO. Retreats are not law making.
“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.”
The Senate President explained what happened during plenary, thus; “…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 9 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.”.
Senator David Mark, a former President of the Senate, National Chairman of African Democratic Congress, ADC
Chairman of the occasion, in his remarks tasked Senate to pass the bill first and allow the Independent National Electoral Commission to do its work.
Mark specifically charged Akpabio and his colleagues in the Senate to accede to the request of Nigerians to do right on the Electoral Act.
He described the burden of the legislator as multifaceted.
According to him, the legislator is pressured by the people as well as other arms of government such as the executive and the judiciary as well as unfulfilled personal promises.
He explained that for lack of understanding, the populace expect the legislator to perform executive functions, pay bills, construct roads build schools and hospitals among others while still functioning as legislators.
He added, “The legislature bears a very heavy burden. The burden of representation where millions of votes matter, the burden of oversight and burden of budgetary control.
“These are constitutional duties discharged under intense conditions. It is the ensuring measure of any democracy where citizens are free to express themselves.”
Some of the dignitaries at the event were: the Akwa Ibom State governor, Pastor Umo Enoh, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, Senators Lee Maeba, and Bassey Ewa- Henshaw among others.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
