Lawan: I got 900 text messages in one day over “doctoring” of Electoral Act

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan has revealed how he was inundated with over 900 text messages over allegations that the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was manipulated.

However, he rejected the allegations that the Senate under his leadership introduced extraneous clauses into the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill.

He accused some mischief makers and rabble rousers of blackmailing the National Assembl over the Bill.

Lawan spoke Wednesday after the Senator Kabiru Gaya-led Senate Committee on INEC laid its report on the Bill at plenary.

Recall that the Senate was accused of introducing a clause banning electronic transmission of results by the Indepedent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

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He said that after his phone number and that of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila was punished on social media, the lines received over 900 text messages from angry Nigerians.

Lawan said, “On the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, there are various accusations, insinuations that the leadership of the Senate, sometimes, the leadership of the National Assembly had tampered with the report of the committee on INEC of both chambers.

“Some of those accusing the leadership of the National Assembly and misinformed innocent, some are simply mischievous and rabble-rousers.

“This is the first time the report is laid here and this is the report of the committee.

“This is the decision of the committee on INEC and therefore, whatever would be discussed or considered about the bill will be on the basis of what has been presented to the committee here.

“If anybody feels strongly about any thing, he or she, should meet the senators to canvass for their positions rather than blackmailing our leadership.

“This is because my telephone lines and that of the Speaker were published and on one day, I received over 900 text messages saying that we have manipulated the report whereas, we did not.

“We will do what is right. We have our procedures and lobbying is part of democracy.”