The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026, following a tense and rowdy session marked by sharp disagreements over key provisions.
Proceedings were briefly disrupted when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division on Clause 60, particularly the proviso allowing manual transmission of election results in the event of failure of electronic transmission.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio initially suggested that the demand had been withdrawn, but opposition lawmakers objected, triggering heated exchanges on the floor.
Citing Order 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin argued that revisiting a matter already ruled upon would be out of order, further fuelling the uproar.
Tensions escalated when Senator Sunday Karimi engaged in a brief face-off with Abaribe before order was restored.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele reminded lawmakers that he had moved a motion for rescission, meaning previous decisions on the bill were no longer binding, thereby validating Abaribe’s request.
When the chamber eventually conducted a division, 55 senators voted in support of retaining the proviso, while 15 opposition senators voted against it.
Clause-By-Clause Review and Closed Session
Earlier, deliberations had stalled during clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, forcing the Senate into a closed-door session after murmurs and consultations among lawmakers.
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The upper chamber had moved to rescind the earlier passage of the bill and return it to the Committee of the Whole for fresh deliberations, citing technical inconsistencies and concerns over the timing of the 2027 general elections.
Lawmakers noted that the timetable announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission could conflict with provisions requiring elections to be scheduled not later than 360 days before the expiration of tenure.
Bamidele warned that strict application of the 360-day notice requirement could push the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections into the Ramadan period, potentially affecting voter turnout, logistics, and overall inclusiveness.
Discrepancies in the Bill
The Senate also identified discrepancies in several sections of the proposed law, including Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143.
These issues reportedly involved cross-referencing errors, serial numbering gaps, and internal inconsistencies within the legislation.
Next Steps
With the passage of the Electoral Act repeal and reenactment bill, the National Assembly is expected to harmonise the legislation before forwarding it for presidential assent, a move seen as crucial to shaping the legal framework for the 2027 general elections.