A joint conference committee of the Senate and House of Representatives convened on Thursday, February 12, 2026, to harmonize the differing versions of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill 2026, with the most contentious issue being the mandatory real-time electronic transmission of election results from polling units to INEC’s IReV portal.
The closed-door meeting, which lasted several hours, brought together members of both chambers’ Committees on Electoral Matters to reconcile key differences before the harmonized bill is sent back to each chamber for concurrence and eventual transmission to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for assent.
Electronic Transmission of Results: The Senate version passed last week makes transmission mandatory with limited discretionary fallback for technical failure, while the House version (still at committee stage) reportedly allows broader INEC discretion. Protesters at the Assembly gates (ongoing #MattressRevolution) insist on a strict mandatory clause with no loopholes.
Diaspora Voting: Both chambers are debating modalities, cost, and safeguards.
Early Campaign Timelines & Finance Limits: Efforts to align provisions on campaign start dates and stricter enforcement of spending caps.
INEC Independence & Penalties: Strengthening protections for INEC officials and harsher sanctions for result mutilation or obstruction of transmission.
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Senate Committee Chairman Sen. Osita Izunaso (lead sponsor): “We are working to produce a bill that strengthens democracy and public confidence. Electronic transmission is non-negotiable in spirit, but we must make it implementable.”
House Committee Chairman Hon. Victor Nwokolo: “The harmonized version must reflect the will of the people as expressed in public hearings. We will not dilute transparency.”
Protesters’ Representative: “We are still here with our mattresses. Until the bill is passed with full, mandatory electronic transmission, we are not leaving.”
The committee is expected to conclude harmonization by next week, with plenary concurrence in both chambers targeted before the end of February 2026. INEC has repeatedly warned that any amendment must receive presidential assent by June 2026 to allow full implementation before the 2027 elections.
The ongoing protest at the National Assembly gates now in its second week remains peaceful but determined, with demonstrators vowing to stay until the bill meets their core demand.
This is a developing story.
By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi
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