The Nigerian Senate has begun examining the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2026, moving into a closed-door session to review documents submitted by Senator Simon Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters.
The private session was convened to allow lawmakers to carefully study the proposed amendments and accompanying documents before continuing legislative discussions on the bill.
This follows the Senate’s earlier decision to defer debate on Wednesday, giving senators time to prepare for a detailed evaluation.
While the House of Representatives has already approved the bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio emphasized the importance of meticulous scrutiny, given the potential impact of the legislation on Nigeria’s electoral system.
“This is a critical bill, especially with elections approaching. We must take the necessary time to ensure fairness, so as to avoid disputes at the tribunals,” he said.
The Senate Committee on Electoral Matters noted that a clause-by-clause review of the bill shows it could provide Nigerians with a lasting legacy of electoral integrity, improve transparency, and increase public trust in the electoral process.
The committee recommended that the Senate pass the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2026, as amended, highlighting that the reforms would expand voter participation, prevent electoral fraud, and strengthen the institutional capacity of INEC.
