The Senate has appointed a 12-member committee to work with the House of Representatives on the Electoral Amendment Act, following the controversy and tension that recently erupted over the bill.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the names of the lawmakers on Tuesday during an emergency plenary session.
Senator Simon Lalong was named as the chairman of the committee, while other members include Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Tahir Monguno, Senator Adamu Aliero, Senator Abba Moro, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Senator Aminu Iya Abbas, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN), Senator Jibrin Isah, Senator Ipalibo Banigo, and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi.
Akpabio explained that the committee size was increased from nine to 12 after consultations with Senate leadership, stressing the urgency of their assignment.
He urged the members to conclude their work within a few days, noting that the President could sign the amended Electoral Bill into law before the end of February.
“When you meet, you should recognise that this is a matter of urgency. If you 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,” Akpabio said.
He added that the committee’s final report would be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent before the month runs out.
The decision comes after a heated session in the Senate, which became rowdy when Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, raised a point of order requesting the chamber to reverse its earlier approval of Clause 60(3) of the bill.
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Monguno based his request on Senate Standing Orders and was supported by Senator Abdul Ningi.
However, the move triggered strong opposition from some senators, leading to shouting and multiple points of order being raised on the floor.
The tension escalated further when Monguno reportedly read the clause without the phrase “real-time”, and replaced the word “transmission” with “transfer.”
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe strongly objected to the change, insisting that the clause as contained in the committee report clearly mandates the real-time electronic transmission of election results to the IREV portal.
At the peak of the disagreement, Abaribe called for a formal division of the Senate, citing Order 72 of the Standing Orders.
