There are indications that the Senate will shift grounds on its earlier stand on transmission of election results as it 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.
Making the announcement during Tuesday’s emergency plenary session that nearly turned rowdy with speakers interrupted intermittently, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, named the chairman of the committee as Senator Simon Bako Lalong.
Other members include:
Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Senator Adamu Aliero, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Abba Moro and Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong.
The rest are: Senator Aminu Iya Abbas, Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (SAN), Senator Jibrin Isah,
Senator Ipalibo Banigo and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi.
The Senate President charged the committee to treat its assignment as urgent and expressed confidence 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,” Akpabio said.
According to him, the outcome would be transmitted promptly to President Bola Tinubu for assent within February.
