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Written by Lizzy Chakupi
The Senate was embroiled in a bitter procedural dispute Tuesday as lawmakers convened an emergency plenary session to repeal a controversial provision of the Election Repeal and Enactment Act of 2026, amid growing public anger over a potential compromise in the 2027 election.
At the center of the storm was Article 60(3) of the bill, which regulates how results from voting units are transmitted, collated and declared, which sparked nationwide criticism following changes seen as diluting safeguards introduced in the Electoral Act 2022.
In response to growing political pressure and public mistrust, a conference was convened to reconsider the provision.
Senator Mohammed Monguno (APC, Borno North), who led the revocation motion, invoked Orders 1(b) and 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, revoking the previous decision and recommitting the provision to the Committee of the Whole for fresh consideration.
He told the Senate that although the bill was passed on February 4, 2026, serious concerns have arisen since then.
“After careful consideration of the bill, pressing issues have emerged regarding Article 60(3) that require further legislative consideration to ensure the conduct of smooth, transparent and credible elections in Nigeria,” Monguno said.
The motion quickly sparked sharp disagreement, with some senators arguing that the motion could not be introduced while the previous floor vote and minutes were still being considered.
However, Senate President Godswill Akpabio ruled that Mr. Monguno’s invocation of Order 1(b), which allows suspension of normal procedures in a state of emergency, had already been approved by voice vote.
“He invoked Order 1(b), it was put to a vote and it was agreed to, so it should continue,” Akpabio ruled.
As the debate continued, Monguno explained that public anger stemmed from the earlier substitution of the word “transfer” in the clause with “transfer,” a change that many Nigerians feared would open a loophole for manipulation.
He said the new amendments aim to remove ambiguity and rebuild trust in the electoral system.
“The Senate represents the will of the people and will always act in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people,” he said. “This amendment aims to ensure that our laws reflect those wishes and aspirations.”
The amended article explicitly states that after signing and stamping Form EC8A, the presiding officer of the polling station “shall electronically transmit the results from each polling station to the INEC Results Viewing (IReV) portal.”
Furthermore, it is provided that in case of failure of electronic transmission due to network or communication problems, the signed result sheet will serve as the main basis for reconciliation and declaration.
Despite the clarification, tensions continued, with several senators questioning whether the controversial language was properly captured by the clerk during the previous session.
Senator Abbas Aminu (APC, Kebbi Central), who seconded the motion, described the development as “the beauty of democracy” and maintained that the Senate has the right to correct itself in the public interest.
When the motion was put to a voice vote, a “yes” vote prevailed, but drama soon ensued.
Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South) challenged the ruling under Order 72, as the House of Representatives called for a formal vote split that required recording of individual senators.
The move sparked unrest in the chamber, but Abaribe shortly afterwards withdrew his request and confirmed the voice vote decision would stand.
An attempt by Senator Danjuma Goje (APC, Gombe Central) to provide a personal explanation was also struck down as not meeting procedural requirements.
With the immediate controversy subsided, the Senate began a harmonization process with the House, expanding the conference committee on election legislation from nine to 12 members to ensure equality.
Senator Simon Bako Lalon was appointed as chairman along with Senators Monguno, Abubakar Kyari, Abbas Aminu, Tokunbo Abiru, Adeniyi Adegbomile (SAN), Jibril Isa Ochacho, Vanigo Iparibo and Nweboni.
Meanwhile, Senator Akpabio expressed hope that the committee would complete its work quickly.
“If we can come to a conclusion in the next few days or week, the president should be able to sign this amended election law by the end of this month,” he said.
The Electoral Act 2022 introduced the obligation for electronic transmission of voting unit results to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV). The reforms have been widely praised for increasing transparency and reducing manipulation.
Recent changes to the new electoral law bill, particularly the wording of the controversial Article 60(3), have sparked protests and criticism across the country, raising concerns that MPs are rolling back those gains.
Tuesday’s dramatic plenary session highlighted both the political sensitivity of electoral reform and the intense public scrutiny that Congress faces.
