Senate footdrags on electoral bill

The Senate has again failed to decide on the report of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, pending before it, creating uncertainty over Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The upper chamber has come under growing pressure to pass the bill to provide a clear legal framework to guide the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the build-up to the polls.

On Tuesday, the Senate adjourned plenary to Wednesday after a closed-door session that lasted more than four hours, without disclosing the outcome of its deliberations.

The consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters on the Electoral Act amendment bill was among the items listed on the Order Paper for the day.

However, upon resumption of plenary, Senate President Godswill Akpabio adjourned sitting without offering details of the executive session.

Last week, the Senate had deferred consideration of the report, opting to subject the proposed amendments to further internal scrutiny through an executive session.

Akpabio announced the decision during plenary after the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), requested that senators be allowed to take home copies of the committee’s report for a detailed, clause-by-clause study.

Agreeing with the request, Akpabio cautioned against rushing legislation with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democracy.

Subsequently, lawmakers stepped down deliberations on the bill and, after a closed-door session last Thursday, constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee to harmonise senators’ inputs on the proposed amendments, with a three-day timeline to submit its report.

However, when plenary resumed on Tuesday, the Senate again went into a lengthy executive session without acting on the electoral bill listed on the Order Paper. It was unclear last night whether the ad hoc committee had concluded its assignment.

Efforts to reach the Senate spokesperson, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, for comment were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or WhatsApp messages.