The Nigerian Senate has commenced consideration of the report on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal & Enactment) Bill, 2026, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio presiding over proceedings. So far, lawmakers have approved Clauses 1 through 22 of the bill.
The process comes amid mounting pressure on the National Assembly to pass the amendment ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has repeatedly warned that delays in enacting the legislation could affect aspects of the election timetable.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, speaking to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja, said the commission had submitted its recommendations on the proposed amendments and is now awaiting legislative action. He stressed that while INEC is prepared to conduct credible elections under the existing Electoral Act, adjustments to the timetable may be necessary depending on when the bill is passed and signed into law.
The Senate has faced criticism for deferring the bill’s consideration in late January. On Tuesday, lawmakers met in a closed-door session lasting over four hours, returning to plenary without disclosing the outcome. Senate President Akpabio stated that the session focused on matters “relevant to the workings of the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general,” before adjourning plenary to the next legislative day.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion for suspension of other items on the Order Paper, which was seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro, facilitating the adjournment.
The delay has sparked public outcry. Protesters, including members of civil society organisations, recently stormed the National Assembly, calling for the immediate passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in 2027. Placards at the protest carried inscriptions such as “No more delay, pass the bill now,” “Electoral Reform now,” and “Take legislative action on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill now.”
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar alleged that the National Assembly’s delay is a deliberate strategy to rig the 2027 elections. Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) argued that loopholes in the 2022 Electoral Act facilitated irregularities in past elections and hindered petitioners from pursuing timely redress in the courts.
Stakeholders, INEC, and civil society alike continue to stress that the timely passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is critical to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process and safeguarding the integrity of the 2027 general elections.