Nigerian senators during plenary as debate on the Electoral Act Bill is deferred.
The Senate has postponed consideration of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026, opting to first examine the proposed law in a closed executive session before reaching a final decision.
The decision was taken during plenary on Wednesday after senators debated the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, presented in the absence of its chairman, Senator Simon Lalong.
Lawmakers agreed to suspend debate on the report to allow members more time to study the bill’s provisions. Consideration is now expected to resume on Thursday.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the bill required careful scrutiny because of its far-reaching impact on Nigeria’s electoral system, despite its earlier passage by the House of Representatives.
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“This is a very important bill, especially as we approach election periods. We must get it right to avoid disputes at the tribunals,” Akpabio said.
An executive session has been scheduled to allow senators discuss sensitive aspects of the proposed reforms behind closed doors.
According to the committee’s report, the bill seeks to strengthen electoral transparency, expand voter participation, curb electoral malpractice, and enhance the operational capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
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