The upper chamber also granted the Court of Appeal original jurisdiction over presidential pre-election disputes, with appeals from such cases directed straight to the Supreme Court. This effectively removes intermediate courts from the process.

The bill, which passed second and third readings in the Senate, was sponsored by Senator Simon Bako Lalong, who represents Plateau South.

Addressing Forum Shopping And Legal Confusion

The amendment aims to curb the practice of “forum shopping,” where litigants deliberately file cases in courts they believe may favour their position. This practice has often resulted in conflicting judgments from courts of equal standing, creating legal uncertainty around elections.

By clearly defining court jurisdictions, the new law seeks to ensure faster and more consistent resolution of disputes, especially those concerning candidate eligibility before elections are conducted.

It also introduces a new Section 29A into the Electoral Act and modifies Section 29, establishing clearer guidelines on which courts handle specific categories of pre-election cases.

Under the revised Section 29(5), aggrieved aspirants are permitted to file cases either in the Federal Capital Territory or in the jurisdiction where the dispute originated.

Lalong: Strong Legal Framework Key To Electoral Integrity

Leading the debate, Senator Lalong stressed that credible elections begin long before voting day, noting that party primaries and candidate selection are critical to democratic legitimacy.

He warned that ambiguity in the legal framework has contributed to manipulation and delays in electoral justice.

“When the legal framework is uncertain, the entire electoral process becomes exposed to confusion, forum shopping, contradictory rulings, and unnecessary delays,” he said.

Lawmakers Back Reform

Several senators supported the bill during plenary.

Senator Ekong Sampson of Akwa Ibom South described forum shopping as a serious threat to democracy, saying it undermines fairness and stability in the political system.

He expressed confidence that the reform would promote consistency and restore trust in electoral adjudication.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole of Edo North also backed the amendment, noting that it would reduce prolonged court cases that often follow party primaries and candidate selection processes.

House Of Representatives Had Earlier Taken Lead

The Senate’s approval follows a similar move by the House of Representatives, which had earlier passed a comparable amendment making the Court of Appeal the final court for pre-election disputes involving governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly elections.

The House version was sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu alongside several committee chairmen, including those overseeing Electoral Matters, Defence, Ports and Harbour, and Police Affairs.

Presenting the bill, Kalu said the amendment would bring “clarity, certainty, and uniformity” to the handling of pre-election disputes nationwide.

With both chambers now in agreement, the amended Electoral Act 2026 is set to become the guiding legal framework for pre-election dispute resolution in Nigeria.