2027: Group Cautions Senate Against Delay In Electoral Reforms

Head of Research and Strategy at the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Oluwafemi Adebayo, has warned that the Senate’s delay in passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill poses risks to Nigeria’s democracy as preparations for the 2027 general elections approach.

Adebayo said the failure of the Red Chamber to consider the bill before proceeding on its end-of-year recess had stalled critical electoral reforms needed to guarantee credible polls.

Speaking on African Independent Television’s current affairs programme, “Democracy Today on AIT”, Adebayo emphasised that Nigerians were worried about the implications of the delay process.

According to him, in December 2025, the House of Representatives passed the Electoral Act Bill before embarking on recess, signalling its readiness to prioritise reforms ahead of the next election cycle.

He said Senate did not consider the bill, thereby preventing the transmission of the proposed law to the President for assent, as required by Nigeria’s bicameral legislative process.

Adebayo stressed that the absence of a new Electoral Act had also created uncertainty around key reforms contained in the bill, including electoral administration, dispute resolution and measures to strengthen the integrity of the process.

He recalled that under the Electoral Act 2022, the notice of election is expected to be issued at least one year before the polls, stressing that once such notice is released, it becomes difficult to amend electoral laws.