#ElectronicVoting: Where is Ike Ekweremadu?, Constituents Cry Out As The 18 Years Serving Senator Records Zero Impact | CABLE REPORTERS


Sen. Ekweremadu (file)

Enugu west constituents have taken to Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms to vent their displeasure over the unprecedented absence of the former deputy president of the senate Sen. Ike Ekweremadu during the senate passage of the electoral bill yesterday. A bill ranked as one of the most important decisions of this present Senate.

Expressing his umbrage, a constitute,  Silas Chime II, who desires an answer to why the 5th term senator who understands the importance and implication of the bill to the credibility of Nigeria elections will be absent at such a critical time asked:

"Just noticed now that the Senator representing my constituency,  Sen. Ike Ekweremmadu, was conspicuously absent yesterday as the Senate voted for the electronic transfer of votes. 

As his constituent, I will like to know why?"



This generated a lot of reactions as many are of the opinion that the distinguished senator decided to circumvent backlash from his constituents as he would have voted against the electronic transmission of results, a plot they alleged will help him rig 2023 elections:

Other Nigerians react:


Cable Reporters can confirm that the Former Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament was spotted yesterday in Europe, in the Balkan country of Montenegro where he is attending a meeting .

Recall, the Senate on Thursday passed the electoral act amendment bill 2021 amidst a rancorous atmosphere after a disagreement over clause 52(3) almost torn the red chamber apart.

Some senators of the ruling All Progressives Congresses (APC) kicked against the electronic transmission of results during the plenary session.

The Senators considered the bill which had 158 clauses, clause after clause until all clauses were dispensed members of the APC in the Senate on Thursday voted against electronic transmission of results.

Senator Sabi Abdullahi had sought for amendment to the clause saying, “The commission may consider electronics collation of results provided the National Network Coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secured by the National Communication Commission and approved by the National Assembly.

This was against the amendment sought by Senator Bassey Akpan which was also the same as a recommendation by the INEC Committee that presented the report which indicated that the Commission may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable at its discretion.

During voice vote the nays had it as the minority leader challenged the ruling by the President of the Senate calling for order 73 which means division.

The Committee had, in the report, recommended in Section 52(3) that, INEC “may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable.”

Members of the Committee on Communications had earlier informed the chamber that the NCC had declared that only 43 percent of the country was currently under effective telecommunications coverage.

Senate President, Ibrahim Lawan, ruled in favour of the amendment when he conducted a voice vote.

There was a disagreement and the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, called for a division that would require individual voting on the floor.

Lawan sustained Abaribe’s point of order and called for a division.



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