The passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, remained unresolved on Tuesday as the Senate failed to reach a decision after spending more than four hours deliberating on the matter behind closed doors.
The upper chamber had begun consideration of the consolidated report submitted by a seven-member ad hoc committee constituted to harmonise lawmakers’ views on the bill. However, the session later moved into a closed-door meeting to review the committee’s findings in detail.
When plenary resumed, Senate President Godswill Akpabio declined to disclose the outcome of the deliberations, effectively postponing further action on the bill as the Senate adjourned to the next legislative day.
Last week, the Senate set up the seven-man committee to collate and distil contributions made by lawmakers during debates on the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act. The committee was mandated to present a harmonised report to guide further consideration of the bill.
The committee is chaired by Senator Niyi Adegbomore, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters. Other members include Senators Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.
Earlier deliberations on the bill had also taken place behind closed doors, following the submission of relevant documents by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong. Lawmakers had agreed to suspend open debate to allow for a thorough review of the proposed amendments.
The repeated postponement of a decision on the bill underscores ongoing divisions within the Senate over key provisions of the proposed electoral reforms, raising fresh concerns about delays in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of future elections.
