National Assembly May Release New Electoral Act Before 2027 Election – Senator Alli

Indications have emerged that the National Assembly may release a new Electoral Act aimed at correcting imperfections in the existing law before the 2027 general elections.

The senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Dr Sharafadeen Alli, hinted at the process yesterdaywhile delivering his goodwill message at the 8th annual Senator Abiola Ajimobi Roundtable held at the University of Ibadan.

The roundtable was tagged, “Pathways to Electoral Credibility: Reforming Political Parties, Re-engineering Citizens, and Restoring Trust in Nigerian Democracy.”

Responding to concerns raised by speakers regarding electoral credibility, the senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noted that Nigeria’s Electoral Act had undergone five amendments since the country returned to democratic rule in 1999, reflecting ongoing efforts to strengthen the electoral process.

He recalled that the Electoral Act, 2001, the first post-military electoral law under the Fourth Republic, established the basic legal framework for INEC, voter registration, political parties and elections, but was widely criticised for loopholes and weak sanctions that contributed to controversies in subsequent polls.

This was replaced by the Electoral Act, 2002, which tightened rules on party registration and candidate nominations, strengthened INEC’s regulatory powers and expanded provisions on electoral offences. However, elections conducted under it remained heavily disputed.

Ahead of the 2007 polls, the Electoral Act 2006 introduced stricter timelines for party primaries, more explicit rules on candidate disqualification, expanded campaign finance regulations, and improved procedures for election petitions and tribunals.

The Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) marked one of the most consequential reforms, regulating party primaries, strengthening voter registration processes, granting INEC greater independence in setting election timetables and empowering courts to nullify wrongful nominations.

It governed the 2011, 2015 and 2019 general elections.

The most recent overhaul, the Electoral Act, 2022, legalised electronic transmission of results, introduced the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), tightened campaign finance rules, improved internal party democracy and was applied during the 2023 general elections.

Alli said the proposed new act would build on these reforms to address lingering gaps and boost public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

Meanwhile, speakers at the roundtable praised Mrs Florence Ajimobi for her courage and values, which they said have sustained the annual event six years after the death of her husband, former Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

The lecture was delivered by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and former Chief of Staff to the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.