Growing political unease has followed the National Assembly’s delay in passing the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, with opposition leaders and civil society groups warning that the setback could undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has accused the Senate of deliberately slowing down the amendment process, arguing that failure to strengthen the electoral framework ahead of the polls amounts to manipulating the process long before voting begins.
In a statement shared on his social media platforms, Atiku said loopholes in the existing Electoral Act contributed to the irregularities recorded during the 2023 elections, stressing that urgent reforms are needed to safeguard future polls. He maintained that with the lessons of the last elections still fresh, the legal framework guiding the 2027 polls and beyond must be reviewed and updated without delay.
Supporters of the former presidential candidate have also cited an investigative report by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), which they claim exposes legislative inertia and a lack of political will to address fundamental weaknesses in Nigeria’s electoral system.
Civil society organisations have echoed these concerns. A coalition of over 70 groups operating under the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room warned that prolonged delay could disrupt preparations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is legally required to issue its Notice of Election in February.
In a joint statement, the organisations described the situation as a serious threat to effective election planning, cautioning that unresolved legal gaps could erode public trust, weaken voter education efforts, and delay the implementation of critical reforms.
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The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, passed by the House of Representatives in December 2025, proposes key reforms including legal backing for electronic transmission of results, provisions for early voting, and stiffer penalties for electoral offences. However, the Senate has yet to conclude work on the bill, following its postponement late last year over procedural disagreements.
As pressure mounts from political stakeholders and civil society, attention is now firmly on the National Assembly, with renewed calls for lawmakers to prioritise and fast-track the bill when legislative activities resume on January 27.