- Senate Adopts Manual Voting On State Police Bill After Technical Glitch
- Senators will openly declare positions on the State Police Bill.
- Lawmakers said the move ensures transparency and full participation.
The Senate on Wednesday resolved to adopt manual voting for the consideration of the State Police Bill after the electronic voting system developed technical issues during plenary.
The decision was taken after lawmakers raised concerns that some senators could be disenfranchised if the chamber proceeded with the faulty electronic voting device.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that under the new arrangement, senators will vote manually by standing up individually, announcing their names and openly declaring their positions on the proposed legislation seeking the establishment of state police across the country.
The motion for the adoption of manual voting was moved by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and seconded by Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro.
Lawmakers argued that the manual process would guarantee transparency and ensure that every senator participates in the voting exercise without being excluded due to technical challenges.
They also noted that the open voting method would make each senator’s position on the State Police Bill publicly known, allowing constituents to clearly identify where their representatives stand on the controversial proposal.
The State Police Bill is one of the key constitutional amendment proposals currently before the National Assembly and has generated widespread debate among stakeholders across the country.
Supporters of the bill have argued that state police would strengthen local security and improve responses to crime and insecurity, while opponents have expressed concerns over possible abuse by state governments.
With the electronic voting system temporarily unavailable, the Senate said the manual voting process would ensure a smooth and inclusive consideration of the bill.
