The National Assembly is set to harmonise the amendment to the Electoral Act 2010.
The amendment, especially on electronic transmission of poll results, had sparked a controversy.
The Senate, mostly All Progressives Congress (APC) senators, voted that the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) must certify that national coverage is adequate and secure, while the National Assembly must give approval before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) can transmit election results electronically.
The House Committee on Electoral Matters recommended that “voting at an election and transmission of result under this Bill shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission”.
Some Nigerians slammed the Senate’s position, arguing that it was contrary to the constitutionally guaranteed independence of INEC.
Yesterday, Senate President Ahmad Lawan named a seven-member Conference Committee of the Senate to join their House counterparts to harmonise the two versions of the Electoral Act (amendment) Bill 2010, passed by both chambers of the National Assembly.
According to Lawan, the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi, is to serve as the leader of the Senate conference committee.
Other members of the committee are the Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Kabiru Gaya representing Northwest, Senator Danjuma Goje (Northeast) and Senator Sani Musa (Northcentral).
Others are Senator Matthew Urhoghide (Southsouth), Senator Ajibola Basiru (Southwest) and Senator Uche Ekwunife (Southeast).
Both chambers had passed the Electoral Act Bill without agreement on the mode of transmission of election results.
Four of the members, that is, Senators Abdullahi (leader), Gaya, Goje and Musa voted that INEC should seek clearance from NCC with approval of Senate before transmitting results electronically.
This position which was approved by the Senate was widely interpreted by Nigerians as an attempt to stop INEC from transmitting election results electronically.
Only Senator Urhoghide voted for electronic transmission of election results while Senator Ekwunife was absent during the voting exercise.
The nation
