President Bola Tinubu is expected to sign the amended Electoral Act into law this month, Senate President Godswill Akpabio has said.
Akpabio made the disclosure on Tuesday during an emergency plenary session of the Senate, where lawmakers constituted a conference committee to harmonise the chamber’s version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill with that passed by the House of Representatives, following public backlash over contentious amendments.
“I believe that if you are able to conclude within the next few days or one week, the President should be able to sign this amended Electoral Bill into an Act of Parliament within this month of February,” Akpabio told senators. “I wish you a worthy deliberation with your colleagues.”
‘Matter of urgency’
The Senate President said the 12-member committee would work jointly with its counterpart in the House of Representatives to reconcile both versions of the bill, urging members to treat the assignment with urgency.
“When you meet, you should recognise that this is a matter of urgency,” he said.
Akpabio explained that the decision to expand the committee followed consultations with Senate leadership and was aimed at ensuring effective collaboration with the House of Representatives.
Backlash, reversal
Tuesday’s emergency sitting came in the wake of widespread criticism over the Senate’s handling of amendments to the Electoral Act.
Last week, the upper chamber rejected a proposal to make real-time electronic transmission of election results mandatory under Clause 60(3) of the bill, instead retaining provisions from the 2022 Electoral Act that give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discretion to determine the mode of transmission.
The move sparked outrage from opposition figures, civil society organisations and youth groups, leading to protests at the National Assembly.
In response, the Senate on Tuesday reversed course, approving electronic transmission of results—though without the “real-time” requirement. Lawmakers further provided that where internet connectivity fails, Form EC8A would serve as the primary instrument for result collation.
