Electoral Act Repeal Bill: Senate Defers Consideration, Plans Executive Session

The Senate has deferred consideration of the report on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026, resolving to reconvene in an executive session to scrutinize the proposed legislation before taking a final decision.

The decision followed deliberations on the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters during plenary, which took place in the absence of the committee chairman, Senator Simon Lalong.

Lawmakers agreed to step down debate on the report to allow senators time to study the bill in detail, with consideration now expected to resume on Thursday.

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An executive session has also been scheduled to enable closed-door discussions on sensitive aspects of the proposed reforms.

Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio underscored the need for thorough scrutiny, given the bill’s implications for 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.

According to the committee’s findings, a clause-by-clause analysis of the bill indicates that enacting the legislation would leave Nigerians with an enduring legacy of electoral integrity, enhance transparency, and boost public confidence.

The committee recommended that the Senate consider and pass the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the reforms would expand voter participation, safeguard against electoral fraud, and strengthen INEC’s institutional capacity.