The House of Representatives has constituted a bipartisan Conference Committee on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill as part of efforts to address persistent calls for electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to a statement issued on Thursday by the House spokesman, Akin Rotimi, the committee is mandated to harmonise areas of disagreement between the versions of the bill earlier passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

“This development is contained in an internal correspondence dated Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Danzaria, Esq, conveying the directive of the Leadership of the House,” the statement partly read.

The seven-member committee is chaired by the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters and Lagos lawmaker, Mr Adebayo Balogun.

Other members are Fred Agbedi, Sada Soli, Ahmadu Jaha and Iduma Igariwey. Also included in the panel are Saidu Abdullahi and Zainab Gimba.

The Committee is mandated to “confer with its counterpart from the Senate with a view to harmonising the differing provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill as passed by both Chambers, ahead of final passage by the National Assembly.”

PUNCH Online reports that the move follows months of legislative activity on amendments to the Electoral Act, driven by reviews of the 2023 general election and sustained advocacy by civil society groups, political parties and election observers for further reforms.

While both chambers agree on the need to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework, their versions of the amendment bill diverge on several key issues.

Among the areas of difference are provisions relating to the deployment of election technology, particularly the scope and legal backing for electronic transmission of results, as well as timelines for the conduct of party primaries and submission of candidates’ lists to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Lawmakers in both chambers have also taken differing positions on the extent of INEC’s discretionary powers in regulating political parties and enforcing compliance with electoral guidelines.

Other contentious clauses reportedly include sanctions for electoral offences, the sequencing of elections, and proposed adjustments to procedures for resolving pre-election disputes.

These differences made it necessary to set up a conference committee, a standard legislative mechanism for reconciling conflicting provisions before a final, harmonised bill is transmitted to the President for assent.

The House reiterated its commitment to the reform process, pledging readiness to champion amendments that strengthen transparency, credibility and public confidence in the nation’s political and democratic processes as the 2027 polls approach.