The Nigerian Senate again failed to pass the Electoral Act Amendment Bill (2025) after a five-hour closed-door executive session on Tuesday.
This is the fifth time the upper chamber has been unable to conclude work on the bill, which the House of Representatives passed earlier.
Closed-Door Talks End Without Decision
Lawmakers moved into an executive session shortly after plenary began. They met to consider the report of an ad hoc committee set up to harmonise senators’ inputs on the bill.
The closed session lasted about five hours. When plenary resumed, Senate President Godswill Akpabio gave no details on the discussions.
Instead, Akpabio announced burial arrangements for the late Okechukwu Ezea, a former senator who represented Enugu North senatorial district. He gave no update on the fate of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.
Ad Hoc Committee Fails to Break Deadlock
The delay followed the Senate’s decision last week to set up a seven-member ad hoc committee. Lawmakers took the step after an earlier three-hour executive session failed to resolve disagreements on the bill.
Akpabio said the committee would “contribute, galvanise and distil the opinion of senators on the bill.” He gave the panel three days to submit its report.
Niyi Adegbonmire, chairman of the Senate committee on judiciary, human rights and legal matters, chairs the panel. Other members include Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.
Despite the committee’s work, the Senate again postponed a final decision.
Senate Urges Caution Despite Delays
Although the House of Representatives has passed the bill, Akpabio urged senators to proceed with caution.
Senate leaders cited the volume of post-election litigation after the 2023 polls. They said the bill requires careful scrutiny to avoid further legal disputes.
Earlier, Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate leader, said the bill would boost electoral credibility and strengthen the independence of election management institutions.
Critics Warn Ahead of 2027 Elections
Critics remain unconvinced. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, a former director at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accused the Senate of deliberately delaying the bill.
Civil society organisations also raised concerns. They warned that continued delays could force Nigerians into the 2027 general election under the 2022 Electoral Act, which they described as flawed.
Despite multiple executive sessions in two weeks, the Senate has yet to pass the bill.
