The process follows the Senate’s decision to set up a conference committee to reconcile differences between its version of the bill and that passed by the House of Representatives.
Speaking to journalists on Thursday at the National Assembly, the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), dismissed media reports suggesting that the Senate rejected the electronic transmission of election results.
According to Abaribe, the Senate did not vote against electronic transmission but rather refined the relevant provision to eliminate ambiguity contained in the 2022 Electoral Act.
“What the Senate passed is a clear provision for the electronic transmission of results, replacing the vague term ‘transfer,’ which was open to misinterpretation,” he said.
He explained that an ad hoc Senate committee had earlier reviewed the electoral reform report and resolved outstanding issues during a closed executive session before presenting its recommendations to the plenary.
Abaribe further clarified that the harmonisation process is still ongoing, noting that the Senate must first formally adopt its Votes and Proceedings before the conference committee can fully convene with its House counterpart.
On Wednesday, the Senate constituted a conference committee to align its version of the Electoral Amendment Bill with that of the House of Representatives, a move seen as essential to ensuring consistency and legal clarity in the proposed amendments.
The Electoral Act Amendment Bill is aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral framework, improving transparency, and enhancing the credibility of the electoral process, particularly in the area of result transmission.
Once harmonisation is concluded, the final version of the bill will be presented to both chambers for adoption before being transmitted to the President for assent.
