The Senate will resume its discussion of the contentious Electoral Act amendment bill on Tuesday in the face of growing public indignation and pressure over delays that some claim could compromise the legitimacy of the 2027 general elections.
According to The PUNCH, ABNTV reports gathered that the upper chamber plans to conclude work on the bill and transmit it this week, following the inauguration of a seven-member ad hoc committee mandated to harmonize senators’ positions and resolve outstanding issues in the proposed legislation.
The committee was constituted last Thursday after a three-hour closed-door executive session during which lawmakers subjected the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill to further scrutiny.
The committee, which had three days to conclude the assignment, is expected to submit a report today (Tuesday).
Announcing the decision, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, said the panel was established to synthesise lawmakers’ views and address concerns raised during plenary debates.
The committee is chaired by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Niyi Adegbonmire, with Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye and Titus Zam as members.
Akpabio said the committee was given a maximum of three days to complete its assignment and submit its report by Tuesday to allow the Senate to resume consideration of the bill.
Although the House of Representatives had already passed the bill, Akpabio stressed the need for due diligence before the Senate’s concurrence.
“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 report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, a clause-by-clause review showed that the proposed amendments would strengthen electoral integrity, enhance transparency and boost public confidence in the electoral system.
The committee, therefore, recommended the 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.
Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele outlined key provisions of the bill, describing it as a major step toward improving electoral credibility and safeguarding institutional independence.
He said the bill introduces stiffer sanctions for electoral offences such as vote-buying, including fines of up to N5m, a two-year jail term and a 10-year ban from contesting elections.
The proposed law also prescribes tougher penalties for result falsification and obstruction of election officials, introduces electronically generated voter identification — including a downloadable voter card with a unique QR code — and mandates the electronic transmission of polling unit results.
