Senate vote for state police bill manually after technical glitch

The Senate on Wednesday, June 24, resolved to adopt manual voting for the consideration of the State Police Bill after its electronic voting system developed a technical fault.

The decision followed concerns among lawmakers that some senators could be excluded from the voting process if the chamber proceeded with the malfunctioning devices. Under the new arrangement, senators will vote individually by standing, announcing their names and openly stating their positions on the proposed state police framework.

Moving the motion for manual voting, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the approach would guarantee transparency and ensure that no senator was disenfranchised because of technical issues. “There is the need to also ensure transparency both within ourselves as people that will be performing this major constitutional responsibility, as well as members of public,” Bamidele said.

“Rather than go by way of electronic voting, which obviously is not the case today, and disenfranchise a few or so of our colleagues whose machines are not working. I am moving that we give every distinguished senator the opportunity to answer his or her father’s name by doing manual voting.” The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro and subsequently adopted by the chamber.

Lawmakers said the procedure would ensure that every senator participated in the voting process while also making each lawmaker’s position publicly known. Earlier in the day, the Senate reversed an earlier decision and approved the admission of governors and other senior government officials into the chamber for deliberations on the State Police Bill.

The request had initially been rejected through a voice vote, in line with Senate rules that ordinarily restrict access to the floor of the chamber to serving senators, while visitors observe proceedings from the gallery. The decision briefly delayed proceedings as invited governors and senior officials were already waiting at the entrance to the chamber.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio appealed to lawmakers to reconsider, arguing that the constitutional amendment process would eventually require approval by state houses of assembly and that governors and other stakeholders should be allowed to closely follow the debate.

He also noted that the proposed legislation originated from the executive arm of government and that many of the invited guests were senior government officials. Following the appeal, Bamidele moved a fresh motion seeking the suspension of Order 12 of the Senate rules on floor privileges to allow the visitors into the chamber as strangers.

Among those admitted were Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin supported the motion and commended Akpabio for what he described as inclusive leadership.

Jibrin said allowing the officials into the chamber would encourage broader participation in discussions on the proposed state police framework. The Senate subsequently approved the motion, paving the way for the governors and other invited officials to witness the proceedings.