The National Assembly is set to commence harmonisation of the Electoral Amendment Bill on Monday, February 16, 2026, as a joint conference committee works to reconcile differences between the versions passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.
The committee, comprising members from both chambers, has been given a strict one-week deadline to resolve key disagreements- chief among them the provisions governing the electronic transmission of election results before a harmonised bill can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The push for harmonisation comes after the two chambers passed separate versions of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026.
While both now accept electronic transmission of results in principle, sharp differences remain over whether it should be mandatory in real time (a position strongly supported in the House version and by many civil society organisations) or allow fallback mechanisms such as manual collation using Form EC8A when technical or network issues arise (reflected in the Senate’s adjusted position).
The process is unfolding against the backdrop of widespread criticism of the 2023 general elections, particularly the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) failure to upload presidential results to the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real time as promised.
This has intensified public and stakeholder calls for stronger legal safeguards to enhance transparency, reduce opportunities for manipulation, and restore confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
In its recent passage, the Senate approved all 155 clauses of its version after clause-by-clause consideration.
A significant amendment reduced the timeline for INEC to publish a notice of election from 360 days to 180 days.
The change, moved by Senator Tahir Monguno, was justified on the grounds that the longer period had become impractical, especially with preparations for the 2027 general elections already in progress.
The outcome of the harmonisation exercise will be pivotal in shaping the final legal framework available to INEC for upcoming off-cycle elections and the 2027 general polls.
Nigerians and election observers are closely watching the process, hoping it delivers reforms that address long-standing concerns about result transmission, electoral integrity, and public trust in the democratic system.
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