The Senate has passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a tense debate over provisions on election result transmission.
Deliberations were disrupted when Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division on Clause 60, which addresses what happens if electronic transmission of results fails. Senate President Godswill Akpabio initially ruled the matter settled, but opposition lawmakers challenged that position, triggering heated exchanges on the floor.
The chamber had earlier agreed to rescind its previous approval and return the bill for clause-by-clause review. According to Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, reopening the legislation was necessary after concerns emerged about the timing of the 2027 general elections and technical inconsistencies in several provisions.
When voting was eventually held on the disputed clause, 55 senators supported retaining the proviso allowing manual transmission of results if electronic systems fail, while 15 voted against it.
Lawmakers also reviewed the bill following the 2027 election timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, amid concerns that legal timelines and other technical issues could affect scheduling and implementation.
After completing deliberations, the Senate approved the revised legislation.
