Senate Goes Behind Closed Doors on Electoral Act Amendment

The Senate has moved into a closed-door session to enable lawmakers to carefully review proposed amendments and supporting documents relating to the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill.

The private session was convened to allow senators conduct a detailed examination of the bill before resuming full legislative debate on the floor of the chamber.

The development followed the Senate’s decision on Wednesday to defer consideration of the bill, giving lawmakers additional time to study its provisions.

Although the House of Representatives has already passed the legislation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed the importance of subjecting the bill to rigorous scrutiny due to its far-reaching impact on Nigeria’s electoral process.

“This is a very important bill, especially as we approach election season. We must take our time to ensure fairness and justice for all, so that we do not end up with avoidable disputes at election tribunals,” Akpabio said.

Findings from the committee’s clause-by-clause review indicate that the proposed legislation would strengthen electoral integrity, improve transparency, and boost public confidence in the democratic process.

The committee further recommended that the Senate consider and pass the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the reforms would broaden voter participation, curb electoral malpractice, and enhance the institutional capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).