Thursday, March 28, 2024

Gbajabiamila inaugurates Electoral Bill conference committee members

Uba Group

The Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has constituted the conference committee on the Electoral Amendment Bill.

The seven-member committee announced on Tuesday is dominated by members of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

Five of the committee members are from the APC, while the remaining two are members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

The committee is chaired by Akeem Adeyemi (APC, Oyo).

Other members are James Faleke (APC, Lagos), Blessing Onuh (APC, Benue), Aisha Dukku (APC, Gombe), and Ahmad Kalambaina (APC, Sokoto).

Also included in the committee are Chris Azubogu (PDP, Anambra) and Unyime Idem (PDP, Akwa Ibom).

The panel is to meet with its Senate counterparts to harmonise the differences in the versions passed by the two chambers in July before proceeding on recess.

The Senate’s version was passed on 15th July, while the House version was passed on 16th July.

The Senate had, last week, announced the compostion of it’s committee.

The members are Kabiru Gaya (North-west), Ajibola Basiru (South-west) and Danjuma Goje (North-east).

Others are Uche Ekwunife (South-east), Sani Musa (North-central) and Matthew Urhoghide (South-south).

The Senate Leader, Abdullahi Yahaya, will lead the panel.

Among the contentious issues in the bill is clause 52(3) of the bill.

The Senate version reads, “The Commission may consider electronic transmission provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secure by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.”

The version passed by the House reads, “The Commission may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable.”

The version by the House was passed amidst rancour, tension and walkout by some members of the PDP.

The committee set up by the Senate is dominated by senators who voted to subject the Independent National Electoral Commission to the Nigerian Communications Commission and National Assembly before using electronic transmission of results.

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