President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is expected to sign the amended Electoral Act into law before the end of the month, according to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Akpabio made this known on Tuesday during an emergency plenary session at the Senate, where lawmakers constituted a conference committee to harmonise the Senate’s version of the bill with that passed by the House of Representatives, following public backlash over some of the amendments.
“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 an Act of Parliament within this month of February,” Akpabio told lawmakers. “I wish you a worthy deliberation with your colleagues.”
The Senate President described the assignment as a “matter of urgency”, urging members of the 12-member conference committee to expedite discussions with their counterparts in the House of Representatives.
“When you meet, you should recognise that this is a matter of urgency,” he said.
Akpabio explained that the decision to expand the committee followed consultations with Senate leadership, aimed at ensuring effective collaboration and swift resolution with the House of Representatives.
The harmonised bill, once concluded, will be transmitted to President Tinubu for presidential assent.
