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The Digest:

The House of Representatives has rescinded its earlier decision on Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act Amendment bill, adopting the Senate's version allowing both electronic and manual transmission of election results. The approval came amidst protests from opposition lawmakers who staged a walkout, chanting "APC, ole!" (APC, thieves!). The adopted version stipulates that presiding officers shall electronically transmit results to IReV after Form EC8A is signed. However, it includes a caveat: "if the electronic transmission of the result fails as a result of communication failure and it becomes impossible to transmit... the form EC8A shall remain the primary source of collation and declaration of the result." This manual backup clause replaces the House's previous mandatory real-time transmission provision, aligning both chambers ahead of harmonisation.

Key Points:
  • The adoption of the manual backup clause weakens transparency safeguards activists fought for.
  • It entrenches potential manipulation pathways during collation where technology fails.
  • Pro-transparency citizens lose, while those favouring discretionary transmission gain legislative victory.
  • This signals the ruling party's legislative dominance despite opposition protests.
  • The timing, with protests and walkouts, reflects deep public distrust.
Despite opposition walkouts and chants, the House adopted the Senate's manual backup clause, moving both chambers closer to a harmonised Electoral Act.

Sources: Daily Trust, House of Representatives