The Senate has set up a seven-member ad hoc committee to collate and harmonise lawmakers’ contributions on the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision was reached after a three-hour closed-door executive session on Thursday, during which senators further examined the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill currently before the National Assembly.
Announcing the outcome, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee was established to streamline senators’ views and resolve outstanding issues surrounding the proposed amendments. He explained that the panel is tasked with consolidating and refining lawmakers’ opinions on the bill.
According to Akpabio, the committee will be chaired by Niyi Adegbonmire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. Other members are Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye and Titus Zam.
The Senate President added that the committee has a maximum of three days to complete its assignment and submit its report to the chamber by Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the Senate had suspended consideration of the Electoral Act amendment report, opting instead for an executive session to allow for more detailed scrutiny of the proposed legislation. This followed deliberations on the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, which was presented in the absence of its chairman, Simon Lalong.
Lawmakers agreed to halt debate to give senators additional time to study the bill, citing its wide-ranging implications for Nigeria’s electoral process. Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Akpabio emphasised the need for the Senate to exercise thorough due diligence before concurrence.
“This is a very important bill, especially as we approach an election season. We must take our time to ensure fairness and avoid unnecessary litigation,” he said.
A clause-by-clause review by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters indicated that the proposed amendments would enhance electoral integrity, improve transparency and increase public confidence in the electoral process. The committee therefore recommended the passage of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the reforms would expand voter participation, reduce electoral malpractice and strengthen the capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele outlined key aspects of the proposed amendments, describing the bill as a significant step toward improving electoral credibility and protecting institutional independence.
He said the bill proposes stiffer penalties for electoral offences such as vote-buying, including fines of up to ₦5 million, a two-year jail term and a 10-year ban from contesting elections. It also introduces tougher sanctions for result falsification and obstruction of election officials, mandates the electronic transmission of results, and provides for electronically generated voter identification, including a downloadable voter card with a unique QR code.
Bamidele further disclosed that the bill recognises the voting rights of prisoners, requires INEC to register eligible inmates, standardises delegates for indirect party primaries, and mandates the release of election funds at least one year before polling day.
According to him, the reforms are designed to ensure credible, transparent and secure elections starting with the 2027 general elections, subject to approval by at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly, in line with constitutional provisions.
“At the end of the process, our ultimate goals remain good governance, improved security and the welfare of our constituents,” Bamidele said.