Senate Cautioned Over Rejected Electoral Reforms

The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has raised serious concerns over the Senate’s rejection of key provisions in the recently passed Electoral Act Amendment Bill, warning that the decisions could undermine transparency and public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the executive director, Bukola Idowu of KDI, who acknowledged the passage of the bill by the Senate, criticised the lawmakers for failing to adopt reforms widely considered crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process.

KDI highlighted that citizens, civil society organisations, and election observers had regarded electronic transmission as vital for ensuring trust and transparency in electoral outcomes.

“For many Nigerians, electronic transmission represented a straightforward mechanism to reinforce confidence in results.

The absence of clearer statutory obligations may leave room for operational discretion and differing interpretations,” he said.

KDI also criticised the Senate’s removal of proposed 10-year disqualification penalties for individuals convicted of vote buying, describing the practice as one of the most damaging threats to democratic integrity in Nigeria.

“Vote buying distorts voter choice and undermines the legitimacy of electoral outcomes. Sanctions must be proportionate and serve as effective deterrents,” the group said.

The reduction of the statutory timeline for issuing election notices from 360 days to 180 days was also flagged by KDI as a potential operational challenge. “Adequate preparation time is fundamental to the successful conduct of large-scale elections. Shortening this window increases pressure on INEC and political parties, risking logistical challenges and avoidable disputes,” it stated.

KDI noted significant divergence between the Senate and House of Representatives positions on transparency and accountability, urging lawmakers to reconcile differences during the conference committee stage. The organisation stressed that elections are not merely legal exercises but public-trust processes requiring clarity, transparency, and citizen confidence, particularly among young voters.

It reaffirmed its commitment to continued engagement with lawmakers, electoral institutions, civil society, and citizens, urging a balance between operational realities and public expectations in finalising the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

However, the Youth-led Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) Consortium has faulted the Senate over its decision to reject mandatory electronic transmission of election results in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.

The expressed disappointment with the decision taken during plenary on February 4, 2026, despite the Senate passing the bill at third reading.

A statement jointly signed by Bukola Idowu of Kimpact Development Initiative; Nonso Orakwe of Catch Them Young Community Initiative; Zigwai Ayuba of J-DEV Foundation; Israel Orekha of Connected Advocacy; Abimbola Aladejare Salako of The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative; and Ashraf Tukur of Child Protection and Peer Learning Initiative.

The group said many Nigerians, particularly young voters, viewed mandatory electronic transmission as a key step towards restoring trust in the electoral process.

YERP-Naija urged the conference committee of the National Assembly to use the harmonisation process to reinstate the provision.