The Senate, yesterday, created a high-powered ad hoc committee to analyze problematic elements in the proposed modifications to the Electoral Act 2022, following concerns made by members during a session held behind closed doors.
Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, made the announcement following a three-hour executive session in which members thoroughly reviewed the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, which was chaired by Senator Simon Lalong.
According to Akpabio, the ad hoc panel will collaborate closely with the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, which is led by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, in order to reconcile differing opinions and resolve any ambiguities that were discovered during discussions.
Due to the absence of its chairman, Senator Lalong, a former governor of Plateau State, the Electoral Matters Committee’s report, which was originally slated for consideration on Wednesday, could not be accepted.
Akpabio ordered copies of the report to be distributed to senators at the end of the session on Wednesday so they may review it before the discussion.
However, the Senate President declared an executive session at the start of plenary yesterday, indicating a change in strategy as lawmakers chose to first discuss the delicate provisions in private.
Speaking to senators following the return of plenary, Akpabio stated that the report would be subjected to additional review to address concerns brought up during the executive session before being presented for final deliberation.
He claims that the recently established ad hoc committee is required to meet for 48 hours and turn in its findings for discussion at plenary on the third day.
Senators Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam are among the panelists. The Senate Clerk will act as the committee’s secretary.
Akpabio then postponed the plenary till Tuesday of the following week.
In the meantime, Senator Pam Dachungyang of Plateau State officially defected from the Action Democratic Party (ADP) to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), marking another defection in the Senate.
Akpabio read Dachungyang’s letter of defection on the Senate floor, putting an end to weeks of conjecture on the lawmaker’s political destiny.
In the letter marked “Notice of Defection from the Action Democratic Party,” the senator said that the ADP’s protracted internal problems and intractable disagreements had made it difficult for him to carry out his duties as a lawmaker.
Amid continuing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general election, the defection increased the APC’s numerical strength in the Red Chamber.
