The Senate has constituted an ad hoc committee to reconcile divergent views among senators on contentious provisions of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the formation of the committee on Thursday after lawmakers failed to reach a consensus on certain clauses during plenary deliberations on the bill.
The committee is chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central) and includes Senators Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Danjuma Goje (Gombe), Tony Nwoye (Anambra), and Titus Zam (Benue). The Clerk of the Senate, Emmanuel Odo, will serve as the committee’s secretary.
The panel was set up following sharp divisions that emerged while considering the amendment bill prepared by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters.
Akpabio tasked the committee with harmonising the differing opinions and submitting a comprehensive report for final consideration by the Senate on Tuesday.
According to him, the committee is expected to collate, refine, and synthesise all contributions made by senators during the closed-door session.
Although the specific clauses under contention were not disclosed, deliberations reportedly lasted over three hours behind closed doors. However, key proposed amendments under review include compulsory electronic transmission of election results, removal of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) as a mandatory requirement for voting, an increase in the fine for vote-buying to ₦5 million, and tougher sanctions for electoral officers who issue unstamped or unsigned ballot papers and result sheets—penalties which include a one-year jail term or a ₦1 million fine.
The bill was initially slated for consideration on Wednesday but was postponed to Thursday due to the absence of the chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong, and to allow lawmakers more time to scrutinise the bill clause by clause.
The House of Representatives had earlier passed its own version of the amendment bill in December and forwarded it to the Senate for concurrence.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar recently criticised the delay in passing the bill, warning that it could negatively affect preparations for the 2027 general elections.