President Bola Tinubu is expected to sign the amended Electoral Act into law this month, Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced Tuesday.
Akpabio spoke during an emergency plenary where lawmakers constituted a 12-member committee to harmonise the Senate and House versions of the bill.
He urged the committee to treat the task as a “matter of urgency,” aiming to complete harmonisation within days so the President can sign the Act this month.
The committee expansion followed consultations with leadership to align with the House of Representatives and ensure smooth legislative coordination.
The move comes amid backlash over amendments to the Electoral Act, particularly regarding Clause 60(3) on real-time electronic transmission of results.
Last week, the Senate initially rejected real-time transmission but retained the 2022 Act provision giving INEC discretion over the transmission mode.
Opposition leaders criticised the Senate, saying the changes could undermine democracy, and staged protests at the National Assembly.
On Tuesday, the Senate reversed its earlier stance, approving electronic transmission without the “real-time” phrase. Where internet fails, Form EC8A remains the primary instrument for collating results.
The legislation now moves closer to presidential assent, with harmonisation between both chambers as the final step before enactment.
