₦airaland Forum

The Senate has 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.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the decision during an emergency plenary session on Tuesday.

“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 members are:

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

He urged the committee to treat its assignment as urgent, expressing optimism that the process could be concluded swiftly.

“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 said that the outcome would be transmitted promptly to President Bola Tinubu for assent within February.

Senator Akpabio subsequently struck the gavel, formally constituting the committee.

Tuesday’s session tended towards rowdiness, with speakers interrupted intermittently at the Red Chambers.

Disagreements emerged among lawmakers after a motion sponsored by Senator Tahir Monguno was put up for consideration.

He had suggested that the Senate reverse 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.

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.

The proposal sparked debate, prompting Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to call for individual voting, a request he later withdrew.

The emergency plenary was convened amid backlash over amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly provisions relating to the electronic transmission of election results.

The controversy centres on Clause 60(3), where the Senate, last week, 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.

There were also widespread protests, including the Occupy National Assembly demonstration in Abuja, where civil society organisations, opposition parties, and prominent figures such as Peter Obi and Rotimi Amaechi demanded mandatory real-time electronic transmission to strengthen electoral credibility.

But Akpabio has clarified that the Senate had not rejected electronic transmission, explaining that the removal of the phrase “real time” was intended to prevent legal complications arising from network failures and to allow INEC operational flexibility.

While critics argue that the amendment weakens transparency, several senators insist that a majority of the chamber supports electronic transmission and that the disagreement is limited to the wording, not the principle itself.

Putindbutt:
At the end of the day, no mandatory electronic transmission, no compulsory real-time transfer.

Orlandoo:
Maduro did more than this, today where is he. The day of reckoning is fast approaching.

Putindbutt:
At the end of the day, no mandatory electronic transmission, no compulsory real-time transfer.

The real time transfer of results in one polling unit would not be the same as another polling unit. Real time transfer of results to iRev could be 5mins after counting of results in one polling unit while it could be 45 mins, 1hr or 2hrs or more in other polling units.

End of the day, form EC8A remains the authentic and primary source of results. Whatever votes that's on form EC8A remains binding on all parties. If you like, don't have agents in over 40,000 polling units like one Loser Party(LP) did in the last election and were wailing everywhere. And they couldn't present evidence in court.

We're only waiting for opposition or coalition of vultures and hyenas to present their Presidential candidate because we need a whipping boy to make the campaign a lot more fun.

As we await INEC to announce President Tinubu the winner of 2027 election, we remind you once again that all your noise only end on social media. Your noise and protest achieved nothing. By now, all those jesters and clowns protesting at the national assembly would return to their house with their tails between their legs... Losers!

LagosOrigin:
Why is tinubu afraid of free and fair election ?

It's obvious that he can't defeat Peter Obi without rigging . He's scared of Peter Obi it's obvious.

Why does he always want to cut corners ?..


It is always criminal minded people that behave this way.

Image123:
It still ends in serious wailing and gnashing of teeth for the haters of Jagaban. There's no other way.

Putindbutt:
At the end of the day, no mandatory electronic transmission, no compulsory real-time transfer.

The real time transfer of results in one polling unit would not be the same as another polling unit. Real time transfer of results to iRev could be 5mins after counting of results in one polling unit while it could be 45 mins, 1hr or 2hrs or more in other polling units.

End of the day, form EC8A remains the authentic and primary source of results. Whatever votes that's on form EC8A remains binding on all parties. If you like, don't have agents in over 40,000 polling units like one Loser Party(LP) did in the last election and were wailing everywhere. And they couldn't present evidence in court.

We're only waiting for opposition or coalition of vultures and hyenas to present their Presidential candidate because we need a whipping boy to make the campaign a lot more fun.

As we await INEC to announce President Tinubu the winner of 2027 election, we remind you once again that all your noise only end on social media. Your noise and protest achieved nothing. By now, all those jesters and clowns protesting at the national assembly would return to their house with their tails between their legs... Losers!

Tooreda:
This is a major win first for the real lovers of good administration and better Nigeria.

israelmao:
The most corrupt Senate in the history of Nigerian democracy.I salute Bukola Saraki-led Senate.

Putindbutt:
At the end of the day, no mandatory electronic transmission, no compulsory real-time transfer.

The real time transfer of results in one polling unit would not be the same as another polling unit. Real time transfer of results to iRev could be 5mins after counting of results in one polling unit while it could be 45 mins, 1hr or 2hrs or more in other polling units.

End of the day, form EC8A remains the authentic and primary source of results. Whatever votes that's on form EC8A remains binding on all parties. If you like, don't have agents in over 40,000 polling units like one Loser Party(LP) did in the last election and were wailing everywhere. And they couldn't present evidence in court.

We're only waiting for opposition or coalition of vultures and hyenas to present their Presidential candidate because we need a whipping boy to make the campaign a lot more fun.

As we await INEC to announce President Tinubu the winner of 2027 election, we remind you once again that all your noise only end on social media. Your noise and protest achieved nothing. By now, all those jesters and clowns protesting at the national assembly would return to their house with their tails between their legs... Losers!

Putindbutt:
At the end of the day, no mandatory electronic transmission, no compulsory real-time transfer.

The real time transfer of results in one polling unit would not be the same as another polling unit. Real time transfer of results to iRev could be 5mins after counting of results in one polling unit while it could be 45 mins, 1hr or 2hrs or more in other polling units.

End of the day, form EC8A remains the authentic and primary source of results. Whatever votes that's on form EC8A remains binding on all parties. If you like, don't have agents in over 40,000 polling units like one Loser Party(LP) did in the last election and were wailing everywhere. And they couldn't present evidence in court.

We're only waiting for opposition or coalition of vultures and hyenas to present their Presidential candidate because we need a whipping boy to make the campaign a lot more fun.

As we await INEC to announce President Tinubu the winner of 2027 election, we remind you once again that all your noise only end on social media. Your noise and protest achieved nothing. By now, all those jesters and clowns protesting at the national assembly would return to their house with their tails between their legs... Losers!

festacman:
This is funny because every Senator on this Harmonization committee is standing on Tinubu's mandate.

It is amusing that somebody is an incumbent, has the national APC leadership in his pocket, the majority of state governors in his corner and he claims to have performed wonders with the economy but he is still afraid of FREE and FAIR election. It doesn't add up.