The Senate has commenced an extraordinary sitting to reconsider key provisions of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following the release of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The unusual plenary session, convened during the Ramadan period and during legislative recess, underscores growing urgency within the National Assembly to finalise amendments to Nigeria’s electoral framework before statutory deadlines tied to the election calendar take full effect.
INEC is legally required to issue formal notices of election at least 360 days before polling day. With the next presidential and National Assembly elections expected in February 2027, lawmakers face narrowing timelines to complete harmonisation of the bill with the House of Representatives and transmit it to the President for assent.
At the heart of the renewed Senate deliberations are contentious provisions relating to electronic transmission of results, election timelines and the scope of INEC’s operational powers. The Senate’s earlier version of the bill permitted electronic transmission but allowed manual collation where network failures occur — a clause that drew criticism from civil society groups and opposition parties, who argue it weakens transparency safeguards introduced after the 2023 elections.
The House of Representatives, by contrast, adopted stricter language making electronic transmission mandatory, creating a divergence that must be resolved through a conference committee of both chambers before the legislation can be finalised.
Beyond result transmission, lawmakers are also weighing proposals to adjust statutory timelines governing election preparations, including possible changes to the notice period and procedural deadlines that directly affect implementation of the newly released 2027 schedule.
The extraordinary sitting reflects concern within the National Assembly that delays in concluding the Electoral Act overhaul could create legal uncertainty for INEC and political parties as preparations for primaries, candidate nomination and logistics planning intensify.
Once both chambers agree on a harmonised text, the revised Electoral Act will be forwarded to the President. Electoral stakeholders say timely assent is critical to ensure regulatory clarity and avoid disputes that could undermine the credibility of the 2027 polls.
Abuja Network News
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