Senators in session
After a rowdy session, the Senate on Tuesday appointed a 12-member conference committee to harmonise differences between its version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill and that of the House of Representatives.
Earlier, proceedings in the Senate became rowdy following disagreements over a motion by Senator Tahir Monguno of Borno North to reverse the decision on the electronic transmission of results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Monguno had suggested that the Senate reverses its earlier approval of clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026.
After the dust settled, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the committee of 12, from an earlier committee of nine to agree with the same number set up by the House of Reps.
“After consultation with the leadership, we have moved the number from nine to 12. I will now read out the names of the conference committee members from the Senate,” Akpabio said on the floor of the Senate.
The cross-zonal members are:
- Senator Simon Bako Lalong – Chairman
- Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno – Member
- Senator Adamu Aliero – Member
- Senator Orji Uzor Kalu – Member
- Senator Abba Moro – Member
- Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong – Member
- Senator Aminu Iya Abbas – Member
- Senator Tokunbo Abiru – Member
- Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN) – Member
- Senator Jibrin Isah – Member
- Senator Ipalibo Banigo – Member
- Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi – Member
Akpabio urged the committee to treat its assignment as urgent, expressing optimism that the process could be concluded swiftly.
“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 the month of February,” he charged the committee.
He said that the outcome would be transmitted promptly to President Bola Tinubu for assent later this month.
The controversy arose because of Clause 60(3), where the Senate removed the requirement for real-time electronic transmission, retaining the 2022 Act provision that empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the mode of transmission.
Fireworks arose on Tuesday among lawmakers after a motion sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno was put up for consideration. He had suggested that the Senate reversed its approval of clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026. The clause concerns the modalities for the electronic transmission of election results.
Akpabio aligned with a proposal that recognises electronic transmission as the primary method, with manual submission of results using Form EC8A permitted only in cases of technical failure.
The proposal sparked debate, prompting Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to call for individual voting, but he later withdrew the request.
