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The Senate has appointed a 12-member conference committee to resolve differences between its version of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill and the version passed by the House of Representatives.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the decision during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday.
Akpabio said the committee’s size had been expanded from 9 to 12 following consultations with Senate leadership.
“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 committee is chaired by Senator Simon Bako Lalong, with Senators Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Aminu Iya Abbas, Tokunbo Abiru, Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN), Jibrin Isah, Ipalibo Banigo and Onyekachi Nwebonyi serving as members.
Akpabio urged the committee to treat the assignment as urgent and expressed confidence that the work could be completed within days.
“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 said.
He added that the bill’s outcome would be transmitted promptly to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Tuesday’s plenary session was followed by moments of tension, with intermittent interruptions in the Red Chambers.
Disagreements arose after a motion sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno sought to reverse the Senate’s approval of Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, which addresses the electronic transmission of election results.
