‎Senate President Assures Timely Passage Of Electoral Act Amendments Ahead Of 2027 Polls

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured Nigerians that all amendments to the Electoral Act will be finalized in time for the 2027 general elections.

‎The assurance was conveyed through his Special Adviser on Constitutional Matters, Dr. Monday Ubani (SAN), in response to mounting pressure from civil society groups, including the AdvoKC Foundation, which had called for the Senate to reconvene from recess and urgently prioritize the Electoral Bill 2025.

‎Addressing journalists in Abuja, Ubani stated that the Senate would take up the bill immediately upon resumption from its recess on January 27, expressing confidence that the legislative process would be completed without delay.

‎He revealed that the Senate leadership is working toward passing the bill and securing presidential assent by the first week of February—a timeline deemed critical given the legal requirement for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Notice of Election at least one year before polling day.

‎“With the House of Representatives having already passed its version, the process is approaching its final stages,” Ubani said. “Once the Senate resumes, they will certainly pass it.”

‎The assurance follows concerns raised by AdvoKC Foundation over the Senate’s decision to proceed on recess despite the time-sensitive nature of the bill. The group warned that failure to pass the amendments before INEC issues its election notice would compel the commission to conduct the 2027 polls under the existing 2022 Electoral Act—a scenario it said would undermine critical reforms, weaken INEC’s preparedness, and further erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.

‎In a statement, the foundation described the Electoral Bill 2025 as one of the most far-reaching reform efforts in recent years, highlighting key provisions such as early release of INEC funding, mandatory audited accounts, NIN-based voter registration, clearer election timelines, early voting, and expanded voting rights for inmates.

‎Ubani acknowledged that the 2022 Electoral Act revealed significant shortcomings during the 2023 general election, particularly in election litigation and result management. He identified real-time electronic transmission of results as the most critical reform, noting it would drastically reduce manipulation at collation centers and provide a reliable audit trail for judicial review.

‎He further explained that the proposed amendment seeks to prevent election petitions from being dismissed on technical grounds by allowing documentary evidence to be tendered by a single collation officer or legal representative, rather than requiring witnesses from every polling unit.

‎Welcoming the Senate’s assurance, AdvoKC Foundation stressed that the focus must now shift from intent to implementation. The group recalled that despite the national importance of the bill, the Senate had skipped its consideration—even after the committee report appeared on the Order Paper on December 3 last year—before proceeding on recess until January 27.

‎This delay, the foundation noted, leaves a narrow window for harmonization, passage, and presidential assent, and contrasts sharply with the speed at which other priority bills were passed—underscoring that urgency is ultimately a matter of choice.

‎“We urge Senate President Akpabio and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to reconvene without delay and pass the 2025 Electoral Act Amendment Bill in the interest of our democracy,” the foundation stated. “The nation is watching. The responsibility lies with the Senate.”

‎Ubani added that the Senate leadership plans to engage media and judiciary correspondents after the bill’s passage to ensure widespread public understanding of the new provisions.

‎For AdvoKC Foundation, the assurance places the Senate firmly on record, with the coming weeks set to determine whether this commitment will translate into action—or delay electoral reforms at the expense of Nigeria’s democratic credibility.