The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 after hours of tense debate and procedural clashes, with disagreements over electronic transmission of election results dominating proceedings. The stormy session centered on Clause 60, a key provision addressing what happens when electronic transmission fails.
Tensions flared when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South) demanded a formal division on the clause, exposing sharp divisions within the chamber. Senate President Godswill Akpabio initially indicated he believed the request had been withdrawn, but opposition lawmakers insisted it remained valid and should proceed to a vote. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin cited Senate rules to argue against reopening a matter already ruled upon, further fueling uproar on the floor.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele clarified that he had earlier moved a motion for rescission of the bill’s passage, meaning previous decisions had been nullified and the clause could be reconsidered. Rising under Order 72(1), Abaribe specifically opposed Clause 60(3), which allows reliance on manual result sheets (Form EC8A) where electronic transmission fails. He argued that retaining the manual fallback option could weaken electoral transparency.
When the matter was put to a vote, 15 senators opposed the controversial provision, while 55 voted in support, ensuring its retention in the amended bill. The vote followed earlier disruptions, including a brief closed-door meeting, as lawmakers conducted clause-by-clause reconsideration of the legislation in the Committee of the Whole.
Beyond Clause 60, senators also debated concerns over the timing of the 2027 general elections, recently scheduled for February 2027 by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Lawmakers cited possible conflicts with the bill’s requirement that elections hold at least 360 days before tenure expiration, as well as logistical and religious considerations. After addressing technical inconsistencies across multiple clauses, the Senate ultimately approved the re-enacted bill.