- The House of Representatives forms a bipartisan Conference Committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill
- The committee is tasked with harmonising differences between House and Senate versions ahead of 2027 elections
- The development follows advocacy from civil society, political parties, and election observers for electoral reforms
The House of Representatives has established a bipartisan Conference Committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as part of efforts to address ongoing calls for electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Thursday, February 5, House spokesman Akin Rotimi said the committee’s mandate is to reconcile areas of disagreement between the versions of the bill previously passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
“This development is contained in an internal correspondence dated Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, Esq, conveying the directive of the Leadership of the House,” the statement partly read.
The seven-member committee is chaired by the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters and Lagos lawmaker, Mr Adebayo Balogun. Other members include Fred Agbedi, Sada Soli, Ahmadu Jaha, Iduma Igariwey, Saidu Abdullahi, and Zainab Gimba.
According to the statement, the Committee is tasked to “confer with its counterpart from the Senate with a view to harmonising the differing provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill as passed by both Chambers, ahead of final passage by the National Assembly.”
The move follows months of legislative activity on Electoral Act amendments, spurred by reviews of the 2023 general elections and sustained advocacy by civil society groups, political parties, and election observers for further reforms.
Key areas of disagreement include the deployment of election technology, particularly the legal backing and scope for electronic transmission of results, as well as timelines for party primaries and submission of candidates’ lists to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Lawmakers in both chambers have also differed on the extent of INEC’s discretionary powers in regulating political parties and enforcing compliance with electoral guidelines. Other contentious issues reportedly include sanctions for electoral offences, the sequencing of elections, and adjustments to procedures for resolving pre-election disputes.
These differences necessitated the formation of a conference committee, a standard legislative mechanism to reconcile conflicting provisions before a final, harmonised bill is sent to the President for assent.
The House reaffirmed its commitment to the reform process, pledging readiness to champion amendments that enhance transparency, credibility, and public confidence in the nation’s political and democratic processes as the 2027 elections approach.
House of Representatives passes N58.47 trn 2026 budget for second reading
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the House of Representatives approved the second reading of the 2026 budget of N58.47 trillion, titled “The Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity.”
The sectoral allocations prioritised security (₦5.41 trillion), infrastructure (₦3.56 trillion), education (₦3.54 trillion), and health (₦2.48 trillion).