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Tag: Electoral Act Bill

  • National Assembly committee to harmonise reworked Electoral Act Bill

    National Assembly committee to harmonise reworked Electoral Act Bill

    The Senate and the House of Representatives have constituted conference committees to harmonise the differing versions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the constitution of the Senate conference committee on Wednesday shortly after the red chamber passed its version of the Bill.

    The committee is expected to reconcile areas of disagreement with the version earlier approved by the House of Representatives.

    According to Akpabio, the Senate committee will be chaired by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong, with Senators Adamu Aliero, Adeniyi Adegbomire, Orji Uzor Kalu, Abba Moro, Asuquo Ekpeyong, Aminu Abbas and Tokunbo Abiru as members.

    He said the committee has been mandated to conclude its assignment within the month to enable the National Assembly transmit a harmonised bill to the President for assent, as attention shifts to the final shape of Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of future elections.

    On its part, the House of Representatives also announced the constitution of its own conference committee to work with the Senate team in harmonising the Bill ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The House had passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill on December 23, 2025, while the Senate approved its version on Wednesday with significant changes.

    Read Also: Senate steps down Electoral Act Bill for ‘wider consultation’

    Key among the amendments by the Senate is the reduction of the period for the issuance of the electoral timetable from 360 days to 180 days.

    Another major point of divergence is electronic transmission of election results.

    While the House approved electronic transmission of results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) in real time and simultaneously with physical collation, the Senate rejected the provision, opting to retain the 2022 framework which allows the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to determine the mode of transmission.

    In a statement issued in Abuja, the spokesman of the House, Akintunde Rotimi, said the conference committee was constituted in line with legislative procedure to harmonise areas of difference between the versions of the Bill passed by both chambers.

    According to him, the decision was conveyed in an internal correspondence dated Wednesday, February 4, 2026, signed by the Clerk to the House of Representatives, Dr. Yahaya Danzaria, acting on the directive of the House leadership.

    Members of the House committee, led by the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun (South West), include Fred Agbedi (South South), Sada Soli (North West), Ahmadu Jaha (North East), Iduma Igariwey Enwo (South East), Saidu Musa Abdullahi (North Central) and Zainab Gimba, representing women.

    Rotimi said, “The committee is mandated to confer with its counterpart from the Senate with a view to harmonising the differing provisions of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill as passed by both Chambers, ahead of final passage by the National Assembly.”

    He added, “The House of Representatives reiterates its commitment to advancing electoral reforms that strengthen transparency, credibility, and public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process.”

  • Electoral Act Bill suffers setback in Senate

    Electoral Act Bill suffers setback in Senate

    The Senate has stepped down the Electoral Act (Repeal and Amendment) Bill, 2025, after an extensive debate on its general principles, to allow for wider consultation and deeper scrutiny of its provisions.

    The proposed legislation seeks to repeal the Electoral Act 2022 and re-enact a new law aimed at delivering a stronger, more credible, and inclusive electoral framework for Nigeria.

    It also proposes innovations such as digital registers of results, QR-coded voter identification cards, and stricter timelines for party primaries and result transmission.

    Leading debate on the bill, the Chairman, Senate Committee on INEC, Senator Simon Lalong, explained that the 2023 general elections had tested Nigeria’s democracy in profound ways.

    He said that while the Electoral Act 2022 introduced some landmark reforms, it also exposed significant weaknesses, including delayed release of election funds, disputes over the voter register, conflicting interpretations of result transmission, and weak enforcement of electoral offences.

    “The key objectives of this legislation are to ensure transparency, efficiency, and integrity in our electoral system, guarantee free and fair competition among political parties, and restore public confidence in elections.

    “Nigerians expect us to respond not with patchwork corrections, but with a holistic law that strengthens INEC’s independence and rebuilds trust in the process,” Lalong said.

    He added that the new bill would also strengthen the independence of the INEC by insulating it from undue interference from government or political parties.

    He said the proposed amendments mandates early release of election funds, continuous voter registration, and the use of technology to improve result management and transparency.

    However, shortly after the debate began, Senator Emmanuel Udende (Benue North East) raised a point of concern that copies of the bill were not yet attached for members’ detailed review.

    Read Also: Bamidele: N’Assembly to pass new Electoral Act Bill before Dec

    Responding, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over plenary, explained that the second reading of any bill was meant to address its general principles rather than its detailed clauses, which would be examined during committee consideration.

    Several senators, including Senator Titus Zam (Benue North West) and Senator Binos Yaroe (Adamawa)  supported the second reading, describing the bill as timely and crucial to strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system.

    He however eexplained that the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters had worked jointly on the bill for over a year and had already held a public hearing earlier in the week.

    Despite the support, some lawmakers expressed reservations about specific provisions in the Bill.

    Senate President Godswill Akpabio who had at this time taken the chair, recounted his personal experience in the 2019 elections, alleging that the wrong officials were punished for electoral misconduct.

    Akpabio argued that any amendment must ensure that INEC is held accountable for infractions committed during elections.

    He also called for a review of the campaign timetable, warning that prolonged campaign periods disrupt governance.

    “In a four-year term, government effectiveness suffers when ministers and public officers spend almost a year campaigning,” he said.

    The Senate President agreed that members needed more clarity on the proposed amendments and suggested a closed session for further briefing.

    He then called for a voice vote on a motion to step down the bill pending further consultations.

    While reiterating the decision, the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, later moved a formal motion to defer further consideration of the bill to another legislative day.

    The Minority Leader, Abba Moro, seconded the motion, and it was unanimously adopted.

    The Senate Leader explained that the delay would enable senators to conduct more stakeholder engagements and ensure that the amendments reflect the aspirations of Nigerians.

    On his part, the Senate President further noted that although the bill aims to modernise Nigeria’s electoral framework, it is important for lawmakers to reach a shared understanding before proceeding to the committee stage.

  • Bamidele: N’Assembly to pass new Electoral Act Bill before Dec

    Bamidele: N’Assembly to pass new Electoral Act Bill before Dec

    The ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 will be concluded on or before December, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has said.

    He said the National Assembly will ensure its use for the 2027 general elections.

    Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central, said the delay in signing the final amendment to the last Electoral Act by the Muhammadu Buhari administration was due to the late transmission of the bill to the Presidency by the National Assembly.

    He gave the assurance yesterday in a statement after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read a letter from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu seeking the confirmation of Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Bamidele recalled that the National Assembly had earlier sent an amendment bill to the then President, which was signed into law.

    However, efforts to correct identified lapses — particularly the disenfranchisement of statutory delegates — were halted because Buhari declined assent, citing the proximity of the 2023 elections.

    “He observed that he did not want to be misunderstood by the public. That was why the bill was not signed then,” Bamidele said.

    “Between now and December 2025, we will ensure the amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 is completed so it will not be too close to the 2027 elections.”

    On the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, Bamidele expressed confidence that the process would succeed, noting that relevant stakeholders — including the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures — were fully engaged.

    Read Also: How Bamidele, Tolulope Onalaja tranform lives through free education in Lagos 

    The senator, who is Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, dismissed fears of executive interference.

    “I do not envisage any resistance because public institutions are working with the National Assembly. Global best practices will guide the process, especially in domesticating international treaties and agreements,” he said.

    On opposition criticism, Bamidele said such was expected in a democracy.

    “They would love to see the ruling party in disarray, but our focus remains on rebuilding Nigeria, stabilising our polity, and growing the economy. We will not be distracted,” he added.