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.

reports that Otache made the remarks during an interview on ARISE Television, where he said the internal crisis remains unresolved despite recent reconciliation attempts, warning that tensions are escalating ahead of the 2027 general elections.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s recent intervention only highlighted deeper divisions within the party, as conflicting accounts emerged from both camps after separate stakeholder meetings.

Otache argued that the lingering crisis is less about political rivalry and more about weak leadership and poor political management.

He said, “The political atmosphere in Benue State is hotter than the atmosphere in Iraq and Iran. There has never been peace in the Benue APC from 2023 till date.”

He added that while the SGF briefed stakeholders on one version of events, Governor Alia presented a contradictory account to the media.

Otache attributed the ongoing crisis to what he described as inexperience among key political actors in the state.

He criticised Governor Alia’s leadership style, claiming the governor had limited political background before assuming office, which he said has contributed to worsening divisions within the party.

“He has never contested even for a councillor. As a leader, your heart must be as large as the Atlantic Ocean to accommodate diverse views,” he stated.

The APC chieftain also accused the governor of disregarding party structures and ignoring court rulings concerning the party’s internal affairs in Benue State.

He further alleged that several reconciliation efforts initiated by party leaders, including interventions linked to the President, had either been ignored or failed to yield results.

“There was a valid court ruling nullifying his action. The President gave directives, but the governor reportedly set it aside,” he said.

Otache warned that failure to resolve the crisis before the 2027 elections could lead to serious consequences for the party.

He also lamented that governance in Benue State has been negatively affected by the ongoing political tension, describing the current administration’s performance as below expectations.

“Governance in Benue State is at the lowest ebb. The party is not together as we speak,” he said.

He concluded that urgent reconciliation is necessary to prevent further fragmentation within the APC in Benue State and avoid possible electoral setbacks in 2027.