The Nigerian Senate has constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee to harmonise and streamline lawmakers’ inputs into the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, underscoring renewed legislative focus on far-reaching electoral reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The resolution followed a three-hour closed-door executive session held on Thursday, during which senators subjected the proposed amendments to deeper scrutiny.
Announcing the outcome, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the panel is mandated to “contribute, galvanise and distil the opinions of senators on the bill” to ensure coherence and legislative clarity.
The committee is chaired by Niyi Adegbonmire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. Other members are Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.
Akpabio said the panel has a maximum of three days to conclude its assignment and report back to the Senate by Tuesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Senate had stepped down consideration of the report on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill to allow for an executive session and more rigorous examination of the proposed changes.
The decision followed plenary deliberations on the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, presented in the absence of its chairman, Simon Lalong.
Lawmakers agreed that debate should be deferred to give senators sufficient time to study the bill, citing its profound implications for Nigeria’s electoral architecture.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Akpabio stressed that the Senate must exercise due diligence.
“This is a very important bill, especially as we approach another election cycle. 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 report, a clause-by-clause review indicates that the proposed law would strengthen electoral integrity, enhance transparency and boost public confidence in the electoral system.
The committee recommended passage of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the reforms would expand voter participation, curb electoral malpractice and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele outlined key highlights of the amendments, saying the review would significantly improve electoral credibility and institutional independence.
He disclosed that the bill introduces stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as vote-buying, including fines of up to ₦5 million, a two-year jail term, and a 10-year ban from contesting elections.
The proposed legislation also prescribes tougher penalties for falsification of results and obstruction of election officials, mandates electronic transmission of polling unit results, and introduces electronically generated voter identification, including a downloadable voter card embedded with a unique QR code.
Bamidele further revealed that the bill recognises the voting rights of prisoners, mandates INEC to register eligible inmates, standardises delegates for indirect party primaries, and requires the release of election funds at least one year before polling day.
According to him, the reforms are aimed at guaranteeing credible, transparent and secure elections beginning with the 2027 general elections, subject to approval by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly in line with constitutional requirements.
“At the end of it all, good governance, enhanced security and the welfare of our constituents shall remain our cardinal objectives,” Bamidele said.