The Senate has constituted a seven-man committee on the harmonization of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to iron out grey areas of concerns in the Bill as passed by the both chambers of the National Assembly.
The Senate President , Ahmad Lawan, announced the seven-man conference committee during plenary on Wednesday.
The seven-man committee will be chaired by the Senate Leader, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC Kebbi North).
Other members of the committee include Kabiru Gaya (APC Kano South), Ajibola Basiru (APC Osun Central), Danjuma Goje (APC Gombe Central), Uche Ekwunife (PDP Anambra Central), Sani Musa (APC Niger East), and Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South).
The two chambers had in July passed for third reading different version of the controversial clause 52(3) which deals with electronic transmission of election results.
While the House of Representatives adopted the clause as proposed by the joint committees of both chambers which states that, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), may transmit results of elections electronically where and when practicable.”
But the Upper Legislative Chamber passed the amended version of the clause which states that adequate coverage and effective working of network must be adjudged by the Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC, for electronic transmission of election results by the INEC.
However, only one out of the nominated seven committee members, Mathew Urhoghide (PDP Edo South) voted in favour of the controversial clause as passed by the Senate.
While Senator Ekwunife was not around during voting on the clause in July, the remaining five senators voted against it by opting for the amended version of the Senate.