The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, has assured Nigerians that amendments to the Electoral Act will be completed well ahead of the 2027 general elections. The assurance comes amid growing concerns from civil society groups over delays in the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2025.
Akpabio gave the assurance in response to concerns raised by the AdvoKC Foundation, a civil society organisation focused on democracy and good governance. The Senate President’s position was conveyed through his Special Adviser on Constitutional Matters, Dr. Monday Ubani (SAN).
Speaking to journalists, Ubani said the Senate would take up the Electoral Act Amendment Bill immediately after resuming from its recess on January 27. He expressed confidence that the legislative process would be completed quickly and that the Bill would receive presidential assent by the first week of February.
According to Ubani, the Senate leadership is fully aware of the importance of the Bill and the need to meet all legal timelines ahead of the next general election.
“The Senate President has assured Nigerians that all amendments to the Electoral Act will be concluded in good time before the 2027 general elections,” Ubani said. “Once the Senate resumes, the Bill will be treated as a priority.”
He noted that the timeline is critical because the law requires the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Notice of Election at least one year before the election date. This means that any amendment to the Electoral Act must be passed and signed into law before INEC takes that step.
Ubani also pointed out that the House of Representatives has already passed its version of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, bringing the process closer to completion.
“With the House of Representatives having already passed its version, the process is now at an advanced stage,” he said. “Once the Senate passes its own version, the harmonisation and final approval will follow.”
The Senate President’s assurance followed strong criticism from the AdvoKC Foundation over the Senate’s decision to proceed on recess while the Electoral Bill was still pending. The group had called on the Senate to reconvene and urgently prioritise the Bill due to its time-sensitive nature.
In a statement, the foundation warned that failure to pass the amendment before INEC issues its Notice of Election would force the commission to conduct the 2027 general election under the existing 2022 Electoral Act.
According to the group, such an outcome would weaken electoral reforms, limit INEC’s ability to prepare effectively, and further reduce public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The AdvoKC Foundation described the Electoral Bill 2025 as one of the most important reform efforts in recent years. It said the Bill is aimed at addressing key weaknesses identified during the 2023 general elections.
Some of the major provisions highlighted by the group include early release of funds to INEC, mandatory submission of audited accounts, National Identification Number (NIN)-based voter registration, clearer election timelines, early voting, and expanded voting rights for inmates.
The group argued that these reforms would strengthen election planning, improve transparency, and make the voting process more inclusive.
Ubani acknowledged that the 2022 Electoral Act revealed several shortcomings during the 2023 general elections. He said these challenges were especially noticeable in the areas of election litigation and the management of election results.
According to him, one of the most critical reforms in the proposed amendment is the provision for real-time electronic transmission of election results.
“This is the most important reform,” Ubani said. “It will greatly reduce manipulation at collation centres and provide a reliable record that can be reviewed by the courts if disputes arise.”
He explained that the amendment also seeks to improve how election cases are handled by the courts. Under the current system, election petitions are often dismissed due to technical issues, such as the inability to produce witnesses from every polling unit.
The proposed amendment, Ubani said, would allow documentary evidence to be presented by a single collation officer or legal representative, rather than requiring multiple witnesses. This, he noted, would make election justice more efficient and fair.
Welcoming the Senate’s assurance, the AdvoKC Foundation said the focus must now shift from promises to action. The group recalled that despite the national importance of the Bill, the Senate failed to consider its Electoral Bill, known as SB 903, even after the committee report appeared on the Order Paper on December 3 last year.
Instead, the Senate proceeded on recess until January 27, leaving only a short period for passage, harmonisation with the House version, and presidential assent.
According to the foundation, the delay contrasts sharply with the speed at which other priority Bills were passed by the National Assembly.
“This shows that urgency is often a matter of choice,” the group said.
The foundation urged Senate President Akpabio and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to act swiftly in the interest of Nigeria’s democracy.
“We urge the Senate to reconvene without delay and pass the 2025 Electoral Act Amendment Bill,” the statement said. “The nation is watching. The responsibility lies with the Senate.”
Ubani added that after the Bill is passed, the Senate leadership plans to engage media and judiciary correspondents to help explain the new provisions to the public. He said this would ensure that Nigerians clearly understand the changes and how they affect future elections.
For AdvoKC Foundation and other civil society groups, the Senate President’s assurance places the National Assembly firmly on record. The coming weeks, they say, will show whether the commitment will translate into action or whether delays will once again affect critical electoral reforms.
