Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) with support from the European Union facilitated the harmonisation retreat of the Conference committee of the Senate and House of Reps on the Electoral Bill 2021, on Thursday, 21st October. At the meeting, the committee concluded its work on the harmonisation of the differences between the Senate and House of Representatives versions of the Electoral Bill.
With the harmonisation completed, both houses resolved the controversial question of whether election results can be transmitted electronically. Both houses also agreed on a common position regarding the nature of primaries to be conducted by political parties for the selection of candidates for elections. It will be recalled that the Senate recommitted the original version of its Bill where it restricted electronic transmission of election results, a position criticised widely by Nigerians. Its recommittal of the bill changed this position, a development that was applauded by Nigerans, with kudos and commendations given to the Senate for this reversal.
The conference committee is now set to present the bill to plenary for approval as soon as both houses reconvene on Tuesday, 9th November.