“To put the record straight, the Senate did not, I repeat, did not reject electronic transmission of election results as provided in the 2022 Electoral Act.”
— Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, a distinguished parliamentarian of uncommon institutional depth, whom I often describe as both an ancient and modern Senator by virtue of his long legislative experience, has spoken with clarity and authority. Representing Abia South, he unequivocally affirmed that the Senate did not reverse the provision on electronic transmission of election results as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2022. His intervention confirms that the position of the Senate remains what was collectively debated, agreed upon, and duly passed into law by the National Assembly.

Indeed, on Wednesday, 5 February 2026, the Senate formally re-affirmed and retained the provision for the electronic transmission of election results as contained in the Electoral Act 2022. Under normal democratic circumstances, such a re-affirmation should have conclusively dispelled all doubts, speculation, and public anxiety surrounding the matter. Regrettably, the damage had already been done. I must express deep concern and disappointment at how the institution to which I proudly belong – the National Assembly – has been exposed to public ridicule and a troubling erosion of confidence within Nigeria’s civic space. This unfortunate development arose largely from perceived inconsistencies, contradictory narratives, and mixed signals emanating from the Senate on more than one issue of profound national importance.

As a legislator, and one who holds the Senate in the highest esteem, I am naturally reluctant to criticise the institution in the public domain. However, conscience, duty, and fidelity to democratic principles compel me to speak with honesty and responsibility. It is in this spirit that I have formally conveyed my concerns to His Excellency, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, with the sincere hope that internal reflection, institutional discipline, and corrective clarity will prevail.

The 10th Senate bears a solemn responsibility not merely to legislate, but to safeguard the credibility and moral authority of the legislative arm of government. Institutional memory, procedural consistency, and respect for laws already enacted are indispensable to sustaining public trust. When ambiguity is allowed to fester, parliamentary authority is weakened, and citizens’ faith in democracy is diminished.

African political thought has long warned against such institutional drift. Kwame Nkrumah reminded us that: “The independence of Ghana is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.” In the same vein, legislative independence is meaningless if it is not anchored in integrity, consistency, and the courage to defend the law against transient political pressures. Julius Nyerere equally cautioned that: “A society which is not prepared to question itself cannot progress.” The Senate must therefore be prepared to interrogate its own conduct in the interest of democratic growth.

Furthermore, the Senate must remember that laws are not mere political pronouncements; they are binding social contracts between the state and the people. Any action or utterance that appears to undermine duly enacted legislation, particularly one central to electoral integrity, risks deepening cynicism and disengagement among the electorate, especially within a fragile democratic environment such as ours. As the Ghanaian philosopher Kwasi Wiredu observed, “Democracy is not just a system of government; it is a moral commitment to reason, dialogue, and accountability.”

I therefore respectfully appeal to the 10th Senate to consistently do what is right and just for the people it represents. The mandate of the people is sacred and must never be treated lightly. Legislative conduct must reflect transparency, coherence, and unwavering fidelity to the Constitution and the Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. As Aristotle long ago reminded us, “The law is reason, free from passion.” When passion or partisanship eclipses reason, institutions falter.

History, too, is an uncompromising judge. The 5th Senate is remembered for resisting tenure elongation; the 6th Senate for courageously enabling the Doctrine of Necessity, a process of which I am proud to have been a part; the 8th Senate for asserting institutional discipline even in the face of seeming executive rascality within its own leadership. Other Senates are remembered for robust oversight of the Executive. Unfortunately, there is a growing fear that the 10th Senate may be remembered less for legislative independence and more for standing uncritically on Tinubu’s Mandate (On Tinubu’s Mandate Akpabio stands).

The great African proverb warns that “A child who washes his hands clean may dine with elders.” The 10th Senate still has the opportunity to cleanse itself of doubt and reclaim its place among respected democratic institutions. Let justice, truth, and the national interest prevail above all other considerations, so that the Senate may endure as a pillar of democracy rather than a subject of public doubt.

Senator Ehigie Uzamere
Member, 6th and 7th Senate