The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project on Sunday petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau, asking it to investigate members of the Nigerian Senate and other public officers over alleged irregularities in the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and the Tax Reform Laws.
The petition was sent to the Bureau’s chairman, Abdullahi Bello, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. The organisation said the request followed complaints that some senators altered parts of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill during plenary sessions in Abuja, Nigeria, after lawmakers had voted in support of certain provisions.
SERAP alleged that sections dealing with electronic transmission of election results were removed without debate, even though a majority of senators had earlier supported their inclusion. The group said the manner in which the changes were made raised concerns about due process in lawmaking.
The organisation also raised issues around the Tax Reform Bills, saying there were differences between the versions passed by the National Assembly and the laws later signed and published by the Federal Government. According to SERAP, these discrepancies were brought to public attention by lawmakers, including a Sokoto State representative, Abdussamad Dasuki, who complained that some changes did not receive legislative approval.
SERAP argued that the alleged alterations could affect the legality of both the Electoral Act Amendment and the Tax Reform Laws. It added that such actions, if proven, could amount to abuse of office, conflict of interest, and breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
The organisation acknowledged that the Senate denied removing the electronic transmission provision, explaining that only the phrase “real time” was deleted due to legal concerns. It also noted that the National Assembly said it had begun investigating the tax law discrepancies and released certified versions of the Acts, which took effect on January 1, 2026.
Despite these responses, SERAP insisted that a formal investigation was necessary. It asked the Code of Conduct Bureau to register the petition, investigate the conduct of the lawmakers and executive officers involved, and determine whether inducements or benefits were exchanged. The group also requested that any confirmed violations be referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
SERAP gave the Bureau seven days to respond to the petition, warning that further legal steps could be taken if no action followed.
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