2027 Electoral Act Amendment suffers setback in senate

…As Akpabio Recalls 2019 Election Experience

By Henry Umoru, Abuja

ABUJA — Plans to statesman the process of considering and perchance approving projected amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act suffered a setback successful the Senate connected Tuesday.

The process had commenced pursuing the presumption of a pb statement by the Chairman of the Senate Committee connected Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong (Plateau South), connected a measure titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Electoral Act No. 13, 2022 and Enact the Electoral Bill, 2025 to Regulate the Conduct of Federal, State and Area Council Elections successful the Federal Capital Territory; and for Related Matters (SB. 903).”

Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, reflected connected his acquisition during the 2019 wide elections, describing it arsenic “unjust,” and calling for lessons to beryllium learned successful the ongoing betterment process.

Presenting the wide principles of the bill, Senator Lalong explained that the projected legislation, which was archetypal work connected October 8, 2025, goes beyond insignificant amendments. He described it arsenic a broad betterment aimed astatine providing Nigeria with a much credible, transparent, and inclusive electoral framework.

According to him, the 2023 wide elections revealed some strengths and weaknesses successful the existent system.

“The 2023 elections tested our ideology successful profound ways. While the 2022 Act introduced landmark innovations, it besides exposed captious gaps — delays successful predetermination funding, disputes implicit elector registers, conflicting interpretations of effect transmission, and anemic enforcement of electoral offences,” Lalong said.

He added that Nigerians expect not “patchwork corrections,” but a holistic instrumentality that restores religion successful the electoral process.

Key objectives of the projected measure include: Improving transparency, efficiency, and integrity successful the electoral process. Ensuring escaped and just contention among governmental parties. Making predetermination outcomes bespeak the volition of the people. Reducing electoral malpractices done stricter punitive measures. Enhancing elector assurance and participation. Strengthening INEC’s independency by insulating it from interference.

Lalong explained that the projected authorities introduces reforms specified arsenic aboriginal merchandise of INEC funds, continuous elector registration, integer registers of results, QR-code elector IDs, and enhanced procedures for physics transmission of results.

It besides seeks clearer timelines for enactment primaries, campaigner nominations, and replacement procedures; reviews run concern ceilings; and imposes tougher penalties for electoral offences specified arsenic vote-buying and mendacious effect declarations.

“This Bill is astir much than Election Day. It is astir strengthening the instauration of our democracy,” Lalong said. “If we get it right, we reconstruct nationalist spot and empower INEC to relation without interference. If we falter, we hazard perpetuating a rhythm of contested elections and declining elector confidence.”

Trouble arose during the wide statement erstwhile Senator Titus Zam (Benue North East) supported calls for the measure to beryllium passed for 2nd reading. Senate President Akpabio interjected, requesting clarification connected the circumstantial provisions being projected for amendment.

Raising the substance further, Akpabio asked Senator Lalong, arsenic committee chairman, to explicate successful item the “nitty-gritty” of the projected reforms.

Akpabio besides referenced his ain 2019 predetermination experience, noting that definite electoral issues from that play underscored the request for a clearer, much accordant ineligible framework.

“The authorities was clear, yet those meant to uphold it acted otherwise,” Akpabio said. “If we privation to hole our electoral system, we indispensable guarantee accountability and fairness crossed each institutions involved.”

He further called attraction to challenges with predetermination timelines and run periods, stressing that lengthy pre-election processes tin impact governance and work delivery.

“When excessively overmuch clip is spent connected campaigns and pre-election formalities, the clip near for existent governance becomes limited,” helium noted.

Following Akpabio’s remarks, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) moved a question for the bill’s information to beryllium stood down, which was seconded by the Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue South). The question was adopted, temporarily h...