National Assembly to Conclude Electoral Act Amendment by December 2025 — Bamidele

The National Assembly has announced that the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 will be completed on or before December 2025, in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

The Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), disclosed this on Tuesday, assuring Nigerians that the revised electoral framework will be ready well ahead of the polls.

Bamidele explained that the previous administration under former President Muhammadu Buhari could not sign the final version of the last amendment bill because it was submitted too close to the 2023 elections.

“Between now and December 2025, we will ensure that the amendment of the Electoral Act, 2022, is concluded so that it will not be too close to the 2027 elections,” Bamidele said.

He made the remarks shortly after Senate President Godswill Akpabio read President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s letter seeking the confirmation of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the new Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Amupitan, a professor of law, was nominated by President Tinubu following the Council of State’s unanimous approval of his appointment last week, succeeding Mahmood Yakubu.

Bamidele also addressed progress on the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution, assuring that the process will succeed because executive agencies are fully cooperating with the legislature in the public interest.

He dismissed claims that the presidency might resist constitutional reforms, stressing that the collaboration between public institutions and the National Assembly remains strong.

According to him, the 10th Senate has a busy agenda that includes electoral reforms, constitutional amendments, and other legislative priorities.

“We are now at the stage of engagements, which will largely involve the presidential team. We won’t wait for all bills to be completed before forwarding them for assent, unlike what happened during the 9th National Assembly,” he added.

Bamidele further remarked that while the opposition will continue to criticize the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the party remains focused on governance and legislative reforms.