The Senate has officially appointed a 12 member conference committee to harmonize the Electoral Act Amendment Bill with the House of Representatives. The move, announced by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday, aims to resolve legislative discrepancies and ensure the bill reaches President Bola Tinubu for assent by the end of February 2026.
In a strategic adjustment following leadership consultations, the committee was expanded from nine to 12 members to ensure broader representation. Senator Simon Lalong has been appointed to lead the committee as Chairman.
The high-powered committee includes:
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu
Senator Tahir Monguno
Senator Adamu Aliero
Senator Abba Moro
Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong
Senator Aminu Iya Abbas
Senator Tokunbo Abiru
Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN)
Senator Jibrin Isah
Senator Ipalibo Banigo
Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi
Senate President Akpabio emphasized the critical nature of the committee’s task, urging members to conclude deliberations within one week.
“When you meet, you should recognize that this is a matter of urgency,” Akpabio stated. “I believe that if you are able to conclude within the next few days, the President should be able to sign the amended Electoral Bill into law within the month of February.”
The formation of the committee follows a period of intense debate within the chamber regarding Clause 60(3) of the bill, which governs the electronic handling of election results.
The core of the legislative friction involves the specific language used for result reporting. While the current committee report mandates that presiding officers “electronically transmit” results to the IREV portal in “real-time,” recent motions to alter this language to “transfer” sparked significant procedural protests and calls for a formal division within the Senate.
The newly formed conference committee is now tasked with reconciling these sensitive technicalities to produce a unified version of the bill that ensures electoral transparency and gains the confidence of the Nigerian electorate.
The Senate remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic framework. Once the harmonization process is complete, the final version will be transmitted immediately to the Presidency to meet the end-of-month deadline for enactment.
