Amid uproar, Senate expands electoral bill conference committee to 12 over clause 60 dispute

The Senate on Tuesday set up a 12-member conference committee to harmonise its position with the House of Representatives on the Electoral Amendment Bill after a heated plenary marked by sharp disagreements over proposed changes to Clause 60 of the legislation.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the composition of the committee during an emergency session, noting that its membership was increased from nine to 12 following consultations with the leadership of the chamber.

Senator Simon Lalong will chair the committee, with Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Tahir Monguno, Adamu Aliero, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Aminu Iya Abbas, Tokunbo Abiru, Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN), Jibrin Isah, Ipalibo Banigo and Onyekachi Nwebonyi serving as members.

Akpabio charged the lawmakers to handle the task with urgency.

“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.

“When you meet, you should recognise that this is a matter of urgency. I believe that 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,” he said.

He added that the committee’s report would be transmitted swiftly to President Bola Tinubu for assent before the end of the month, before striking the gavel to formally inaugurate the panel.

The development followed a tense moment earlier in the sitting when the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno (APC, Borno North), raised a point of order seeking to rescind the Senate’s earlier approval of Clause 60(3).

Relying on Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, 2023 (as amended), Monguno’s motion was seconded by Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central).

Tempers flared when Monguno read the clause without the phrase “real-time” and replaced the word “transmission” with “transfer,” prompting loud objections from several lawmakers.

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (APGA, Abia South) repeatedly raised points of order in protest as the chamber descended into a shouting match.

According to page 45 of the report by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Clause 60(3) reads: “The Presiding Officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IREV portal in real time and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed Form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the Presiding Officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or polling agents available at the polling unit.”

At the height of the commotion, Abaribe invoked Order 72 of the Standing Orders and called for a division.