Senate Sets Up Special Committee to Fast-Track Electoral Act Amendment

The Senate has constituted a special committee to conduct a detailed review of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2026, following over two hours of deliberations during a closed-door session.

The committee is chaired by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Niyi Adegbomore. Other members include Senators Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.

The panel has been given a three-day deadline to complete its assignment and submit a report for consideration at the next plenary session scheduled for next week.

The decision came as the Senate on Thursday formally commenced consideration of the Electoral Act repeal bill, after moving into a closed session to examine documents presented by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong.

The closed-door meeting was convened to allow lawmakers to carefully study the proposed amendments and accompanying documents before proceeding with open debate on the floor of the chamber.

The development follows the Senate’s decision on Wednesday to defer deliberation on the bill, allowing members adequate time to prepare for an in-depth review.

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

“This is a very important bill, particularly as we approach election season. We must take our time to ensure fairness and avoid future disputes that could end up at election tribunals,” Akpabio said.

According to preliminary findings from the committee, a clause-by-clause review of the bill suggests that its passage would strengthen electoral integrity, improve transparency, and enhance public confidence in the democratic process.