Tension erupted on the Senate floor Tuesday as Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Abia South Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe clashed during discussions on the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2026.
The disagreement arose during the clause-by-clause review of Clause 60, which covers the electronic transmission of election results. Abaribe, a former Senate minority leader, had proposed that electronic transmission be used exclusively, with no manual backup.
When Akpabio called for debate, the chamber grew tense as lawmakers divided along party lines. Abaribe then requested a division, or physical voting, to ensure transparency and procedural fairness. Moments later, Akpabio interjected, recalling that Abaribe had previously withdrawn a similar motion. In a remark that drew laughter and jeers across the chamber, the Senate President said, “Distinguished Senator Abaribe, you withdrew your earlier demand. He was attacked on social media.”
The senate president continued, “he has the right, yes. It is an opportunity for him to correct it. So what Senator Abaribe is asking for is that he will like to be seen there on social media. You are the social media Senator.”
The comment immediately drew outrage from opposition benches. Abaribe rose on a point of order, insisting that it was not true. “Mr president, that is not true, I am talking for Nigerians, not for Senator Abaribe, I want Nigerians to know,” he said. This further drew noise from the Senators.
“Do not distract Senator Abaribe,” the senate president said, “he is on an important national assignment and social media is watching, so now, move your motion .”
Senator Abaribe tackled Akpabio, saying his comments were “unparliamentary and unbecoming of the Senate President.” Order was restored after several minutes, and Akpabio instructed that a division vote be held. The results showed 55 senators in favor of keeping a manual backup for transmitting election results, while 15 senators, mainly from opposition parties, voted against it.
The clause was approved, and the Senate subsequently passed the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2026 into law, allowing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transmit results electronically while retaining a manual backup in case of network failures.