The Senate has appointed a 12-member conference committee to reconcile differences between its version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill and that of the House of Representatives, naming Senator Simon Bako Lalong as chairman.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday.
“After consultation with the leadership, we have expanded the committee from nine to twelve members. I will now read out the names of the Senate representatives,” Akpabio said on the chamber floor.
The committee will work alongside its House counterpart to harmonise divergent provisions in the amendment bill, producing a unified version for legislative approval.
The move forms part of the National Assembly’s broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral legal framework ahead of future elections, including the 2027 general polls.
Lawmakers expressed confidence that the harmonisation process would resolve contentious issues and enhance transparency, credibility, and efficiency in the conduct of elections across the country.
Committee Members:
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Senator Simon Bako Lalong – Chairman
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Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno
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Senator Adamu Aliero
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Senator Orji Uzor Kalu
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Senator Abba Moro
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Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong
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Senator Aminu Iya Abbas
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Senator Tokunbo Abiru
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Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN)
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Senator Jibrin Isah
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Senator Ipalibo Banigo
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Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi
Akpabio urged the committee to treat its task with urgency. “When you meet, you should recognise that this is a matter of urgency. I believe that if you are able to conclude within the next few days or one week, the President should be able to sign the amended Electoral Bill into law within February,” he said, striking the gavel to formally constitute the committee.
Tuesday’s session was marked by intermittent rowdiness, with speakers frequently interrupted. Tensions arose after Senator Tahir Monguno moved a motion urging the Senate to reverse its approval of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, which governs the electronic transmission of election results.
Akpabio aligned with a proposal recognising electronic transmission as the primary method, allowing manual submission via Form EC8A only in cases of technical failure.
The proposal triggered debate, with Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe initially calling for individual voting before later withdrawing the request.
The emergency plenary was convened amid widespread public backlash over amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly Clause 60(3), where the Senate last week removed the requirement for real-time electronic transmission.
Critics argued that the change could weaken transparency, prompting demonstrations by civil society groups, opposition parties, and prominent figures—including Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi—demanding mandatory real-time electronic transmission to strengthen electoral credibility.
Akpabio clarified that the Senate had not rejected electronic transmission. The removal of the phrase “real time” was intended to prevent legal complications arising from network failures and to give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) operational flexibility.
Several senators emphasised that the chamber broadly supports electronic transmission, with disagreements confined to the wording rather than the principle itself.
The reconstituted conference committee is expected to work closely with the House of Representatives to produce a harmonised bill for prompt legislative approval and transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
