Senate President Godswill Akpabio has given assurances that amendments to Nigeria’s Electoral Act will be concluded in good time for the 2027 general election, amid mounting pressure from civil society groups.
The assurance followed concerns raised by the AdvoKC Foundation, a civil society organisation, which urged the Senate to reconvene from recess and urgently prioritise the Electoral Bill 2025.
Akpabio’s position was conveyed through his Special Adviser on Constitutional Matters, Dr. Monday Ubani (SAN), who addressed journalists on the matter. Ubani disclosed that the Senate would take up the Electoral Bill immediately upon resumption from recess on January 27.
According to him, the Senate leadership is confident that the legislative process will be completed swiftly, with passage and presidential assent expected by the first week of February.
“The leadership is fully committed to ensuring the Bill is passed in good time,” Ubani said, noting that the timeline is crucial because the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is legally required to issue a Notice of Election at least one year before polling day.
He added that with the House of Representatives having already passed its version of the Bill, the process is now nearing its final stages. “Once the Senate resumes, they will certainly pass it,” he assured.
The Senate President’s assurance comes after AdvoKC Foundation expressed concern over the Senate’s decision to proceed on recess despite the time-sensitive nature of the Electoral Bill. The group warned that failure to amend the law before INEC issues its Notice of Election would force the commission to conduct the 2027 polls under the existing 2022 Electoral Act.
According to the foundation, such a scenario would stall key reforms, weaken INEC’s preparedness and further erode public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.
In a statement, AdvoKC Foundation described the Electoral Bill 2025 as one of the most ambitious reform efforts in recent years. The group highlighted proposed provisions such as early release of INEC funding, mandatory audited accounts, NIN-based voter registration, clearer election timelines, early voting and expanded voting rights for inmates.
Ubani acknowledged that the 2022 Electoral Act exposed significant gaps during the 2023 general election, particularly in election litigation and result management. He identified real-time electronic transmission of results as the most critical reform, noting that it would significantly reduce manipulation at collation centres and provide a credible audit trail for judicial review.
He also explained that the amendment seeks to prevent election petitions from being dismissed on technical grounds by allowing documentary evidence to be tendered by a single collation officer or legal representative, instead of requiring witnesses from every polling unit.
Welcoming the Senate’s assurance, AdvoKC Foundation stressed that attention must now shift from promises to concrete action. The group recalled that despite the national importance of the Bill, the Senate failed to consider its Electoral Bill, SB 903, even after the committee report appeared on the Order Paper on December 3, before proceeding on recess.
According to the foundation, the delay contrasts sharply with the speed at which other priority Bills were passed, underscoring that legislative urgency is often a matter of choice.
“We urge Senate President Akpabio and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to reconvene without delay and pass the 2025 Electoral Act Amendment Bill in the interest of our democracy,” the group said. “The nation is watching. The responsibility lies with the Senate.”
Ubani added that following the passage of the Bill, the Senate leadership plans to engage media and judiciary correspondents to ensure widespread public understanding of the new electoral provisions.
For AdvoKC Foundation, the Senate President’s assurance places the legislature firmly on record, with the coming weeks set to determine whether the commitment will translate into decisive action or further delays that could undermine Nigeria’s democratic credibility.