Senate Inaugurates 12-Member Committee to Reconcile Electoral Bill with House
The Senate has named 12 lawmakers to join their counterparts in the House of Representatives to resolve differences in the Electoral Amendment Bill after a heated debate over a key provision.
The announcement was made during an emergency plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who urged the committee to treat the assignment as urgent so the bill can reach the President for assent within February.
He explained that the number of members was expanded from nine to 12 following consultations with Senate leaders.
Senator Simon Lalong will head the committee, with Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Tahir Mungono, Adamu Aliero, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Aminu Iya Abbas, Tokunbo Abiru, Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN), Jibrin Isah, Ipalibo Banigo and Onyekachi Nwebonyi serving as members.
Akpabio said the harmonised report would be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu immediately after completion for final approval.
The development comes after disorder broke out in the chamber over efforts to revisit Clause 60(3) of the proposed law.
The Senate Chief Whip had sought to rescind the earlier approval of the clause, relying on provisions of the Senate Standing Orders.
This sparked resistance from other senators who questioned the procedure and raised several objections on the floor.
The tension rose further when the clause was presented with a change in wording, omitting “real-time” and substituting “transmission” with “transfer.”
A senator challenged the alteration and repeatedly invoked points of order as members shouted across the chamber.
The original report of the committee on electoral matters clearly states that results from polling units must be electronically transmitted to the electoral portal in real time after the official forms are duly completed and signed.
As the disagreement escalated, a call was made for a formal division in line with Senate rules.
The newly formed conference committee is expected to settle the differences and produce a unified version of the amendment for final passage.