Lawmakers at the senate
Senate has set up a seven-member committee to collate and harmonise lawmakers’ views on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2026, as part of efforts to fast-track the passage of the proposed legislation.
The committee was inaugurated after senators spent more than two hours deliberating on the bill’s provisions during a closed-door session.
Chaired by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Niyi Adegbomore, the panel is expected to distil the diverse contributions made by senators into a unified position for presentation to the chamber.
Other members of the committee include Senators Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.
The panel has been mandated to conclude its assignment within three days and submit a comprehensive report to the Senate at the next plenary session scheduled for Tuesday.
The Senate had on Thursday formally commenced consideration of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, before resolving to move into a closed session to scrutinise documents presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong.
According to lawmakers, the closed-door meeting was convened to allow for a detailed examination of the proposed amendments and accompanying documents ahead of further legislative debate on the bill.
The development follows the Senate’s decision on Wednesday to defer deliberation on the bill in order to give members adequate time to study its contents.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the need for careful consideration due to the far-reaching impact of the legislation on Nigeria’s electoral system.
“This is a very important bill, especially as it is election time. We must take our time to ensure justice is done to all, so that we do not end up at the tribunal,” Akpabio said.
Findings from the committee’s preliminary clause-by-clause review indicate that the proposed amendments, if enacted, would strengthen electoral integrity, promote transparency, and boost public confidence in the nation’s democratic process, leaving what lawmakers described as a lasting legacy for future elections.
