The Senate has constituted a seven-member ad hoc committee to harmonise and streamline lawmakers’ contributions to the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act.
The decision followed a three-hour closed-door executive session held on Thursday, during which senators conducted a deeper review of the far-reaching electoral reforms.
Announcing the outcome of the session, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee was mandated to “contribute, galvanise and distil the opinions of senators on the bill.”
The committee, which will be chaired by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, includes Senators Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye and Titus Zam.
Akpabio said the panel has up to three days to complete its assignment and report back to the Senate by Tuesday.
The Senate had earlier, on Wednesday, stepped down consideration of the report on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill to allow for an executive session and more rigorous scrutiny of the proposed amendments.
The decision followed plenary deliberations on the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, which was presented in the absence of its chairman, Senator Simon Lalong.
Lawmakers agreed that further debate should be deferred to give senators adequate time to study the bill, citing its significant implications for Nigeria’s electoral process.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Akpabio stressed that the Senate must exercise due diligence.
“This is a very important bill, especially as we approach another election cycle. We must take our time to ensure justice is done to all, so that we do not end up at the tribunal,” he said.
According to the committee’s report, a clause-by-clause review indicates that the bill would strengthen electoral integrity, enhance transparency and boost public confidence in the electoral system.
The committee recommended the passage of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the reforms would expand voter participation, curb electoral malpractice and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Earlier, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele outlined key highlights of the proposed amendments, saying the review would significantly improve electoral credibility and institutional independence.
He said the bill introduces stiffer sanctions for electoral offences, such as vote-buying, including fines of up to ₦5 million, a two-year jail term, and a 10-year ban on contesting elections.
The proposed law also prescribes tougher penalties for falsification of results and obstruction of election officials, mandates the electronic transmission of polling unit results, and introduces electronically generated voter identification, including a downloadable voter card embedded with a unique QR code.
Bamidele added that the bill recognises the voting rights of prisoners, mandates INEC to register eligible inmates, standardises delegates for indirect party primaries, and requires the release of election funds at least one year before polling day.
According to him, the reforms are aimed at guaranteeing credible, transparent and secure elections, beginning with the 2027 general elections, subject to approval by at least two-thirds of the state Houses of Assembly, in line with constitutional provisions.
“At the end of it all, good governance, enhanced security and the welfare of our constituents shall remain our cardinal objectives,” Bamidele said.
