The Nigerian Senate has commenced consideration of the report on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal & Enactment) Bill, 2026, with Senate President Godswill Akpabio presiding over proceedings. So far, lawmakers have approved Clauses 1 through 22 of the bill.

The process comes amid mounting pressure on the National Assembly to pass the amendment ahead of the 2027 general elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has repeatedly warned that delays in enacting the legislation could affect aspects of the election timetable.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, speaking to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Abuja, said the commission had submitted its recommendations on the proposed amendments and is now awaiting legislative action. He stressed that while INEC is prepared to conduct credible elections under the existing Electoral Act, adjustments to the timetable may be necessary depending on when the bill is passed and signed into law.

The Senate has faced criticism for deferring the bill’s consideration in late January. On Tuesday, lawmakers met in a closed-door session lasting over four hours, returning to plenary without disclosing the outcome. Senate President Akpabio stated that the session focused on matters “relevant to the workings of the Senate in particular and the National Assembly in general,” before adjourning plenary to the next legislative day.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion for suspension of other items on the Order Paper, which was seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro, facilitating the adjournment.

The delay has sparked public outcry. Protesters, including members of civil society organisations, recently stormed the National Assembly, calling for the immediate passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to ensure free, fair, and credible elections in 2027. Placards at the protest carried inscriptions such as “No more delay, pass the bill now,” “Electoral Reform now,” and “Take legislative action on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill now.”

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar alleged that the National Assembly’s delay is a deliberate strategy to rig the 2027 elections. Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) argued that loopholes in the 2022 Electoral Act facilitated irregularities in past elections and hindered petitioners from pursuing timely redress in the courts.

Stakeholders, INEC, and civil society alike continue to stress that the timely passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is critical to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process and safeguarding the integrity of the 2027 general elections.

______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence

Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via: 0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888 Website: www.alexandernigeria.com

_______________________________________________________________________ [A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
“Evidence Act: Complete Annotation” by renowned legal experts Sanni & Etti.
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation _______________________________________________________________________

“Order Justice Omolaye-Ajileye’s Electronic Evidence Books Now” — Essential Guides On Evidence Act, Case Law And Digital Proof

Two leading books on electronic evidence by Hon. Justice Professor Alaba Omolaye-Ajileye, Rtd., PhD, FICMC, are now available for purchase. The publications, Electronic Evidence (Second Edition), With The Evidence Act, 2011 and Compendium Of Cases On Electronic Evidence, Volume II, 2020–2025, provide practical guidance, legal analysis and recent judicial authorities on electronic evidence in Nigeria.Order directly from the author here: https://velvety-cendol-7387ed.netlify.app/ _______________________________________________________________________ Groundbreaking Guide For Lawyers: Adigwe Publishes ‘Artificial Intelligence For Lawyers’ With Free Research eBook The book also examines Nigeria's legal ecosystem, focusing on the LPELR and NBA AI Guidelines. As a bonus, every purchase comes with a FREE eBook titled: How to Use the AI Features in LegalPedia and LawPavilion. Ohio Books Ltd praises the publication, stating: "....this is the only Nigerian book I know of on the topic." How to Order: 📞 Call, Text, or WhatsApp: 08034917063 | 07055285878 📧 Email: benadigwe1@gmail.com 🌎 Website: www.benadigwe.com Ebook Version: Access it directly online at https://selar.com/prv626 Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria. _______________________________________________________________________