Electoral Act: Senate appoints 12 lawmakers to reconcile bill with Reps
Senate Appoints 12 Lawmakers to Reconcile Electoral Amendment Act with House of Representatives
The Nigerian Senate has appointed 12 members to collaborate with the House of Representatives in reconciling the contentious amendments to the Electoral Amendment Act. This decision comes amid growing public concern regarding the bill.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday. He stated that the newly formed committee will work to address the differences between the two chambers’ versions of the legislation.
The appointed senators include Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Orji Uzor Kalu, Tokunbo Abiru, Adeniyi Adegbonmire, and Jibrin Isa Ochocho. Akpabio emphasized the importance of timely meetings to resolve discrepancies so the bill can be presented to the president for signing within the month.
Debate surrounding the Electoral Amendment Act has intensified, particularly concerning provisions related to the electronic transmission of election results. Critics argue that changes made by the Senate—such as the removal of the term “real-time” from the e-transmission clause—could jeopardize transparency and the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The joint committee is tasked with addressing these divisive issues, including voting timelines, results transmission, and other technical reforms, before submitting a reconciled version for approval by both legislative bodies.
