The House of Representatives has dismissed claims that the National Assembly is intentionally delaying the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, insisting that any perceived slowdown is procedural rather than political. Lawmakers remain confident the bill will be harmonised next week.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Adebayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, said work on the bill is ongoing in both chambers and there is no deliberate delay.

“The Senate is in session, considering the bill. Hopefully, the harmonisation will be completed by next week,” Balogun, who represents Ibeju‑Lekki Federal Constituency in Lagos State, told Punch.

He added that once the House and Senate reconcile their versions of the bill, it will be sent to the President for assent, in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

Senate Again Fails to Conclude Bill
Despite claims of progress, the Senate on Tuesday once again failed to conclude work on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, retreating into a lengthy closed‑door session that ended without clarity on the bill’s fate.

Lawmakers spent about four and a half hours in an executive session reviewing the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Senator Simon Lalong, alongside input from a seven-member ad hoc committee tasked with resolving contentious clauses.

When plenary resumed around 5:35 pm, no details were disclosed, leaving the bill in limbo for the second consecutive sitting.

The executive session followed a motion by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, for a Committee of the Whole to conduct a clause-by-clause review. While the ad hoc committee’s report, chaired by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (Ondo Central), was on the Order Paper, senators opted to deliberate behind closed doors.

Upon resumption, Senate President Godswill Akpabio offered a vague summary: “At the executive session, the Senate deliberated on matters relating to the working of the Senate in particular and the nation in general.” Senators confirmed the statement with “aye,” and the matter was swiftly closed. Bamidele then moved to adjourn plenary until Wednesday, with no indication of whether the bill had passed third reading or when it would return for final passage.

Slow Pace Fuels Anxiety Ahead of 2027 Polls
The repeated delays have raised concerns about Nigeria’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections. The Electoral Act Amendment Bill is considered crucial for strengthening electoral integrity, curbing malpractice, and boosting public confidence.

Key proposals before the Senate include: mandatory real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results; tougher sanctions for electoral offences such as result manipulation and ballot-box snatching; replacing references to “smart card readers” with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System; protecting vulnerable voters, including the visually impaired; and criminalising refusal of presiding officers to sign and stamp electoral materials.

Major opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have criticised what they see as a lack of urgency in amending the law, warning that further delays could undermine public confidence and the credibility of the 2027 polls.

The bill’s slow movement in late 2025 drew public criticism. It was initially scheduled for consideration before the House’s Christmas recess but was stepped down due to insufficient copies for lawmakers.

Last week, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana accused the National Assembly of deliberately neglecting the bill, claiming lawmakers prefer to retain the status quo.

“Clearly, from the conduct of both chambers of the National Assembly, it is evident that members simply want the status quo retained. This rigmarole is meant to give Nigerians the impression that the Electoral Act is being addressed,” Falana said on Arise News. He added that legislators appear more focused on defections than meaningful electoral reform.

Despite mounting criticism, the National Assembly maintains that the delays are procedural and necessary for reconciliation between both chambers before the bill can be sent for presidential assent.