By Kachi Okezie, Esq
The voice vote has long been a staple of parliamentary proceedings, valued for its speed and convenience. However, in today’s political climate—where transparency and accountability are paramount—this method has become a tool for manipulation and abuse. Across the world, many democratic countries have abandoned voice voting in favour of electronic voting systems, ensuring greater integrity in legislative decision-making. Yet, Nigeria stubbornly clings to this outdated and outmoded practice, allowing its political elite to exploit it for personal and partisan gain.
Recent events in Nigeria’s National Assembly, particularly under Senate President Godswill Akpabio, have underscored the dangers of this archaic voting system. The approval of the state of emergency in Rivers State and the controversial decision against Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan have once again highlighted how the voice vote can be wielded as a blunt instrument of political control.
Abuse – “The ayes ‘ave it!”
The voice vote system operates on the principle of lawmakers verbally expressing their approval or disapproval of a motion. The presiding officer then decides which side has the majority, often without a clear, objective measure. This subjective judgment leaves room for manipulation, bias, and outright fraud. By allowing presiding officers to exercise excessive discretion, the voice vote defeats the primary purpose of representative democracy. In many cases, they can simply claim that the “ayes” have it, even when the “nays” are louder. This renders the voting process meaningless and erodes trust in the system
The Case of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan
In the recent case involving Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the voice vote was allegedly used to push through a decision that many believe was politically motivated. When the Senate was expected to debate and vote on matters concerning her, Senate President Akpabio used the voice vote to deliver an outcome that flew in the face of what viewers saw and heard in a live transmitted vote. Critics argue that the ruling was predetermined and that an electronic voting system would have ensured that each senator’s vote was counted and made public.
The Declaration of a State of Emergency in Rivers State
Another glaring example of voice vote abuse occurred when the Senate swiftly approved a state of emergency in Rivers State. Given the controversy surrounding the political crisis in the state, the decision should have been subjected to a clear, recorded and provable vote. Instead, Akpabio allegedly pushed through the approval via a voice vote, preventing any meaningful debate or dissent. An electronic system would have made it clear which senators supported or opposed the measure, allowing Nigerians to hold their elected representatives accountable.
Yet, this is not the first time the voice vote has been used to subvert due process in Nigeria’s legislature. Under previous Senate presidents, contentious bills and motions—ranging from budget approvals to constitutional amendments—have been passed without proper scrutiny simply because the presiding officer “heard” more voices on one side than the other.
Yet, all of this is occurring at a time when technology is taking over the world, delivering process efficiencies as never before imagined. A time when many countries have moved away from voice votes for critical decisions. In the United States Congress, for example, while voice votes are still used for minor issues, major decisions require recorded votes. The Indian Parliament and the European Union have also adopted electronic systems that ensure verifiable voting outcomes. Many Nigerians now fear that their legislature is sliding dangerously into a state of impotence whereby its no longer able to discharge its Constitutional role of law-making and holding the executive to account, in particular.
To reverse this trend some key actions must be implemented urgently. The voice vote must be done away with and replaced by a fit for purpose electronic system which can retain data on votes and voting patterns for future use. This will ensure transparency, promote accountability in the process and reduce or even eliminate post-vote acrimony, whilst increasing legislative efficiency. Nigeria has seen countless instances where lawmakers protest voting outcomes, alleging manipulation. An electronic system eliminates such disputes by providing concrete evidence of each lawmaker’s vote.
In a democracy, legislators must be accountable to their constituents, and when votes are conducted electronically, the public can see how their representatives voted on any given issue. This ensures that lawmakers act in the interest of the people rather than on personal or party agendas.
Let’s be clear, Nigerians have grown highly sceptical of their politics, generally, and their lawmakers, in particular. Adopting electronic voting would immediately demonstrate a commitment to transparency and accountability, rebuilding trust in the country’s democratic institutions. If Nigeria’s leaders truly value democracy, then here’s the memo: they must embrace reforms that prioritise the will of the people over political expediency. The voice vote belongs in the past. The future of Nigeria’s democracy depends on a voting system that is foolproof, fair, and beyond the reach of political manipulation. It’s time to act.
