The Senate has inaugurated a seven-member ad hoc committee to streamline and consolidate lawmakers’ contributions to the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, as efforts intensify to reform Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision was reached after a closed-door session that lasted about three hours on Thursday, during which senators reviewed key issues in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill currently under consideration by the National Assembly.
Announcing the outcome of the meeting, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee was created to integrate senators’ perspectives and resolve outstanding matters in the proposed legislation. He explained that the panel was “mandated to contribute, galvanise and distil the opinion of senators on the bill.”
Akpabio disclosed that the committee would be chaired by Niyi Adegbonmire, chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. Other members include Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye and Titus Zam.
He added that the committee has been given three days to complete its assignment and present its report to the Senate by Tuesday.
Earlier, the Senate had suspended consideration of the committee report on the Electoral Act amendment bill and opted for an executive session to allow lawmakers to examine the proposed reforms more thoroughly.
The decision followed debates on the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, which was presented in the absence of its chairman, Simon Lalong. Senators agreed to pause deliberations, citing the wide-ranging impact of the bill on Nigeria’s electoral process.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Akpabio stressed the need for caution and thorough review before concurrence.
“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 Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, in its report, noted that the proposed amendments would improve electoral integrity, promote transparency and strengthen public trust in the electoral system. It therefore recommended the passage of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele highlighted major provisions of the bill, describing it as a significant step toward enhancing the credibility of elections and protecting institutional independence.
He said the proposed law introduces stricter penalties for offences such as vote-buying, including fines of up to N5 million, a two-year prison term and a 10-year ban from contesting elections.
The bill also provides tougher sanctions for result manipulation and obstruction of electoral officials, mandates electronic transmission of polling unit results, and introduces electronically generated voter identification, including a downloadable voter card with a unique QR code.
Bamidele further explained that the reforms recognise the voting rights of prisoners, require INEC to register eligible inmates, standardise delegates for indirect party primaries and mandate the release of election funds at least one year before elections.
He said the reforms are designed to deliver credible, transparent and secure elections from the 2027 polls, subject to approval by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly, in line with constitutional provisions.
“At the end of it all, good governance, enhanced security and the welfare of our constituents shall remain our cardinal objectives,” Bamidele said.
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