Despite accusations that it is delaying the passage of the Electoral Act amendment, the Senate has done the unthinkable: it has further postponed deliberations on the bill.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio on Wednesday announced that consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill would be deferred to allow senators adequate time to study the committee’s report in detail.
Akpabio made the announcement during plenary after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), requested that copies of the report be circulated to lawmakers for clause-by-clause examination before debate.
Agreeing to the request, Akpabio cautioned against rushing a piece of legislation with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s democratic process.
“This is a very important bill, especially as we are approaching another election season. If we rush it, we may end up at the tribunal. But if we get it right, Nigerians will smile knowing we have achieved free and fair elections,” the Senate President said.
Although debate on the general principles of the amendment bill had been listed on the Order Paper for Wednesday, it was subsequently stepped down. The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), who was scheduled to present the committee’s report, was absent, prompting brief consultations among Senate leaders.
Following the consultations, Bamidele moved a motion to defer consideration of the bill until Thursday, explaining that a closed-door session would precede open deliberations on the proposed amendments. The motion was adopted by voice vote.
The Electoral Act amendment bill contains about 20 proposals aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral framework.
One of the key proposals seeks to make the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) non-mandatory for voting. Under proposed amendments to Sections 18 and 47, voters could be accredited using other forms of identification such as the National Identification Number (NIN), international passport or birth certificate, given that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) does not depend on the PVC microchip.
Another major provision proposes an amendment to Section 60(5) to make the electronic transmission of election results mandatory.
The bill also seeks to amend Section 71(2) to criminalise the distribution of unstamped or unsigned ballot papers and result sheets. Under the proposal, any presiding or collation officer found culpable would face a minimum of one year imprisonment, a fine of N1 million, or both.
In addition, the bill proposes an upward review of campaign spending limits for all elective offices. The spending cap for presidential candidates would increase from N5 billion to N10 billion, while that of governorship candidates would rise from N1 billion to N3 billion.
Spending limits for senatorial candidates would increase from N100 million to N500 million, while House of Representatives candidates would be allowed to spend up to N250 million, up from N70 million.
For State House of Assembly candidates, the proposed limit would rise from N30 million to N100 million. Local government chairmanship candidates would be permitted to spend up to N100 million, while the ceiling for councillorship candidates would increase from N5 million to N10 million.
Akpabio reiterated that despite the House of Representatives having already passed the bill, the Senate would subject it to thorough scrutiny, stressing the need for careful consideration given its significance to Nigeria’s electoral system.
Recall that a coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society groups and advocacy networks has accused the the Upper Legislative Chamber of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of deliberately stalling the passage of the long-awaited Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, raising concerns that the delay could undermine preparations for the 2027 general elections.
In separate statements and protests, groups including the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) and other election-focused organisations said the Senate’s inaction on a bill already passed by the House of Representatives has created uncertainty around Nigeria’s electoral legal framework and weakened prospects for credible polls.
The House of Representatives had completed clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and passed it at third reading in December 2025, addressing key reforms such as electronic transmission of results and stronger penalties for electoral offences. However, the Senate has yet to finalise its own work on the legislation, with critics saying its continued deferment signals a lack of urgency.
The Senate postponed further debate on Wednesday choosing to subject the bill’s report to additional scrutiny and closed-door executive sessions, even as lawmakers prepare to resume plenary sessions. Senate leadership says the extra time is needed for detailed review of critical reforms.
Civil society groups held a peaceful demonstration at the National Assembly complex in Abuja, carrying placards urging senators to “pass the bill now” and refocus on electoral reforms that are central to democratic integrity. The co-convener of the Situation Room, Comrade Mma Odi, said the Senate had no justification for stalling a bill the lower house had already approved and argued that the delay could disrupt INEC’s planning and preparations.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room also issued a statement warning that the Senate’s failure to conclude action on the bill — despite passing it at second reading in October 2025 — reflects “poor prioritisation, weak inter-chamber coordination, and a troubling disregard for Nigeria’s electoral timelines.” The group stressed that unfettered delay could leave INEC unable to issue legally required election notices on schedule.
Former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has also publicly faulted the Senate for “frustrating the passage” of the amendments, warning that not acting swiftly amounts to jeopardising the credibility of the 2027 elections. He cited reports by investigative bodies as evidence that legislative accountability is urgently needed to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral laws.
Election experts and former INEC officials have echoed these sentiments in media appearances, alleging that the Senate’s slow pace appears deliberate and could perpetuate flaws in the existing 2022 Electoral Act rather than correct them ahead of the polls.
Civil society advocates emphasise that electoral reform is time-sensitive and must be completed well before the next general elections to allow for meaningful implementation, voter education, staff training and operational planning. They argue that continued dilly-dallying may erode public confidence in the electoral process and fuel disputes after the polls.
There has been no immediate public response from the Senate leadership addressing the specific allegations of deliberate delay or outlining an accelerated timeline for the bill’s passage.
