The Senate on Wednesday postponed discussion on the report of the Electoral Act Repeal and Enactment Bill, 2026, choosing to take more time to examine the proposed changes before reaching a final decision. The decision was taken during plenary while reviewing the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, which was presented in the absence of its chairman, Senator Simon Lalong.
Lawmakers agreed that the debate should be suspended to give senators enough time to carefully read and understand the contents of the bill. As a result, consideration of the report was shifted to Thursday. The Senate also resolved to meet in an executive session to hold private talks on parts of the bill considered sensitive due to their impact on future elections.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, the Senate maintained that the nature of electoral laws requires careful handling. Senators expressed concerns about the effect of the amendments on the country’s electoral system and the need to avoid future legal disputes after elections.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, urged members to proceed with caution, noting that the bill comes at a time when preparations for upcoming elections are underway. He advised senators to ensure that the law is properly reviewed to prevent problems that could arise during election petitions.
According to the committee’s report, the bill was examined section by section and is intended to improve the conduct of elections in the country. The committee stated that the proposed amendments aim to increase voter participation, reduce election-related offences and strengthen the operations of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The committee therefore recommended that the Senate pass the Electoral Act Repeal and Enactment Bill, 2025, with amendments, after full consideration by all members.
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