THE House of Representatives has set up a bipartisan Conference Committee to review and harmonise the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, in response to sustained calls for electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued today by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, who said the committee is tasked with resolving areas of disagreement between versions of the bill earlier passed by the Senate and the House.
According to the statement, the directive was conveyed through an internal correspondence dated February 4, 2026, from the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, following approval by the House leadership.
The seven-member committee is chaired by the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun. Other members include Fred Agbedi, Sada Soli, Ahmadu Jaha, Iduma Igariwey, Saidu Abdullahi and Zainab Gimba.
The panel is expected to engage with its Senate counterpart to reconcile conflicting provisions in the amendment bill before a final, harmonised version is passed by the National Assembly and transmitted to the President for assent.
The move follows months of legislative engagement on electoral reforms, informed by reviews of the 2023 general elections and continued advocacy by civil society organisations, political parties and election observers.
While both chambers agree on the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework, differences remain over key provisions, including the use of election technology, the legal backing for electronic transmission of results, timelines for party primaries, submission of candidates’ lists, and the scope of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s regulatory powers.
Other contentious issues include sanctions for electoral offences, election sequencing and procedures for resolving pre-election disputes, making the establishment of a conference committee necessary under legislative practice.
The House reaffirmed its commitment to advancing reforms aimed at enhancing transparency, credibility and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process as preparations for the 2027 polls continue.