Senate Defers Electoral Act Amendment, Plans Executive Session

The Senate has deferred consideration of the report on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, resolving to reconvene in an executive session to further scrutinise the proposed legislation before taking a final decision.

The decision followed deliberations on the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters’ report during plenary, conducted in the absence of the committee chairman, Senator Simon Lalong.

Lawmakers agreed to step down debate on the report to allow senators sufficient time to study the bill in detail, with consideration expected to resume on Thursday.

An executive session has also been scheduled to allow for closed-door discussions on sensitive aspects of the proposed electoral reforms.

Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the need for thorough scrutiny, given the legislation’s far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s electoral process.

“This is a very important bill, especially as it is election time. We must take our time to ensure justice is done to all, so that we do not end up at the tribunal,” Akpabio said.

According to the committee’s findings, a clause-by-clause analysis of the bill indicates that its enactment would leave Nigerians with a lasting legacy of electoral integrity, enhance transparency, and boost public confidence in the electoral system.

The committee therefore recommended that the Senate consider and pass the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the proposed reforms would expand voter participation, safeguard against electoral malpractice, and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).