Group faults Senate over delay in electoral act amendment bill
Kola Oyelere, Kano
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The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has criticised the Senate over the delay in passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025, warning that continued inaction could weaken public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group raised the concern on Wednesday during an emergency press conference held at the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) office in Kano, following the Senate’s adjournment without taking a decision on the bill.
Convener of the Situation Room, Comrade Y. Z. Ya’u, said it was troubling that the Senate had yet to act on the amendment despite its passage by the House of Representatives in December 2025.
He cautioned that the delay could force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the 2027 polls using the existing Electoral Act, which he described as containing significant ambiguities.
Ya’u recalled that during the 2023 general elections, INEC assured Nigerians it would deploy technology, including electronic transmission of results, to boost transparency.
However, disputes later arose during election petitions when courts ruled that the law did not explicitly make electronic transmission mandatory.
He explained that the proposed amendment bill seeks to close such gaps by making electronic transmission of results compulsory, strengthening penalties for electoral offences, granting greater financial autonomy to INEC, and improving internal party democracy through clearer guidelines on party primaries and authenticated membership registers.
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According to him, the bill followed extensive consultations and public hearings conducted by committees of both chambers of the National Assembly over the past two to three years.
According to him,” The House of Representatives has completed all legislative stages and passed the bill. What remains is concurrence by the Senate”.
“Unfortunately, the Senate went on recess in December without acting on it and has now adjourned again,” Ya’u said.
He noted that INEC is required by law to release the timetable for the 2027 elections by April, warning that further delay in passing the amendment could mean the commission issues the timetable based on the old law.
“This would mean that electronic transmission of results would remain discretionary, sanctions for electoral offenders would be weak, and critical reforms would be lost,” he added.
Ya’u linked declining voter turnout in recent elections to diminishing trust in the electoral system, stressing that timely passage of the amendment bill is essential to restoring public confidence and strengthening democracy.
The Situation Room urged the Senate to reconvene and pass the bill within days, describing the matter as one of urgent national importance that should not be hindered by recess or procedural delays.
He warned that prolonged inaction could have serious consequences for democratic stability, as citizens’ frustration may deepen if electoral reforms continue to stall.
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“The Senate must act with urgency and patriotism. This law should be passed immediately and transmitted to the President for assent, so Nigerians can be assured that improved electoral laws will govern the 2027 elections,” Ya’u said.
The briefing concluded with a call on senators to prioritise the amendment bill in the interest of democracy and national stability.