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The Nigerian Senate has postponed consideration of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026, agreeing to reconvene in an executive session to examine the proposed legislation in detail before making a final decision.
The decision followed deliberations on the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters’ report during plenary, held in the absence of the committee chairman, Senator Simon Lalong. Lawmakers agreed to pause debate on the report to allow senators time to study the bill, with discussions expected to resume on Thursday.
An executive session has also been scheduled to allow closed-door discussions on sensitive aspects of the proposed reforms.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the importance of thorough scrutiny given the legislation’s impact on the nation’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,” he said.
The committee’s findings show that a clause-by-clause review of the bill suggests the legislation would leave Nigerians with a lasting legacy of electoral integrity, enhance transparency, and strengthen public confidence.
The committee recommended that the Senate consider and pass the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, highlighting that the reforms would broaden voter participation, prevent electoral fraud, and strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity.
