The Senate on Thursday suspended further debate on a bill seeking to repeal the Electoral Act 2022 and enact a new Electoral Act 2025, citing the need for broader consultations and a clearer understanding of its key provisions.
The decision followed a motion moved by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti), and seconded by Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro (PDP, Benue), during plenary. The motion was subsequently adopted by the upper chamber.
Senator Bamidele explained that it was not an appropriate time to proceed with an executive session on such a far-reaching piece of legislation, noting that lawmakers must first “grasp the general principles and details” before advancing deliberations.
The bill, which was presented by Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau), Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, seeks to comprehensively reform Nigeria’s electoral system through a repeal and re-enactment, rather than a simple amendment.
According to Lalong, while the 2022 Electoral Act introduced some positive innovations, it also revealed several shortcomings, including “critical gaps, delays in the release of election funds, disputes over voter register, conflicting interpretations of result transmission, and widespread litigations from party primaries.”
He stressed that Nigerians expect a holistic reform that will restore public confidence in elections, strengthen INEC’s independence, and ensure transparency in the process.
The proposed Electoral Act 2025 aims to introduce digital reforms such as continuous voter registration, electronic result transmission, and digital voter registers embedded with QR codes. It also sets stricter timelines and clearer procedures for party primaries, candidate nominations, and replacements in cases of death or withdrawal.
Lalong added that, if passed, the bill would “restore public trust, reduce post-election disputes, and empower INEC to function without interference.”
The suspension of the debate will allow senators to engage stakeholders and conduct more consultations before the bill returns for further consideration at a later date.
