{"id":991,"date":"2026-02-10T16:25:16","date_gmt":"2026-02-10T16:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hallowmace.com\/?p=991"},"modified":"2026-02-10T16:25:16","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T16:25:16","slug":"senate-sets-up-12-member-conference-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hallowmace.com\/?p=991","title":{"rendered":"Senate Sets Up 12 Member Conference Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

Monguno had suggested that the Senate reverses its earlier approval of clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfter 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,\u201d Akpabio said on the floor of the Senate.<\/p>\n

The cross-zonal members are:<\/p>\n

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  1. Senator Simon Bako Lalong \u2013 Chairman<\/li>\n
  2. Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  3. Senator Adamu Aliero \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  4. Senator Orji Uzor Kalu \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  5. Senator Abba Moro \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  6. Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  7. Senator Aminu Iya Abbas \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  8. Senator Tokunbo Abiru \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  9. Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN) \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  10. Senator Jibrin Isah \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  11. Senator Ipalibo Banigo \u2013 Member<\/li>\n
  12. Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi \u2013 Member<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Akpabio urged the committee to treat its assignment as urgent, expressing optimism that the process could be concluded swiftly.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWhen 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,\u201d he charged the committee.<\/p>\n

    He said that the outcome would be transmitted promptly to President Bola Tinubu for assent later this month.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n

    The proposal sparked debate, prompting Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to call for individual voting, but he later withdrew the request.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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