Senate Passes Electoral Bill After Rowdy Session

ABUJA — The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday officially passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, marking a decisive yet contentious milestone in the lead-up to the next general elections. The passage followed a turbulent session characterized by sharp partisan divisions over the technicalities of result transmission. At the heart of the friction was Clause 60, where the upper chamber eventually voted 55 to 15 to retain a proviso allowing for manual result collation should electronic systems fail. Consequently, this “pragmatic” caveat has sparked intense debate among transparency advocates who fear that discretionary manual backups could undermine the integrity of the 2027 polls.

The plenary session dissolved into a rowdy spectacle when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South) demanded a formal division under Order 72(1). Abaribe sought to expunge the manual transmission provision, arguing that only “real-time” electronic uploads can prevent the alteration of figures at ward collation centers. Furthermore, the Abia lawmaker maintained that the current technological infrastructure, specifically the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), has matured enough to mandate full digital compliance. While it is true that fifteen opposition senators stood in a bold show of support for Abaribe, the ruling majority comfortably carried the day. Indeed, Senate President Godswill Akpabio sustained the proviso, asserting that a “manual safety net” is essential for regions with erratic network connectivity.

Significant logistical and religious concerns drove the Senate’s decision to rescind its earlier passage of the bill. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved for rescission after discovering that the initial 360-day notice requirement for elections would clash with the 2027 Ramadan fast. In a related development, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already flagged potential voter disenfranchisement if the presidential poll proceeded during the holy month. Significantly, the revised legislation now provides for more flexible timelines to ensure that religious observances do not impede national democratic participation.

Notably, the harmonized bill also addresses a litany of technical errors across 22 clauses, ranging from cross-referencing blunders to serial numbering inconsistencies. Above all, the Senate has now replaced all references to “Smart Card Readers” with the BVAS, finally aligning the law with current operational realities. Subsequently, a 12-member Conference Committee, led by Senator Simon Lalong, will harmonize these amendments with the House of Representatives’ version. Although the “real-time” clause remains a point of contention, the National Assembly aims to transmit the final document to President Bola Tinubu by the end of February.

Finally, the 2026 Electoral Act represents a delicate compromise between technological ambition and the harsh realities of Nigeria’s digital landscape.  Therefore, the focus now shifts to INEC’s ability to manage these discretionary powers without triggering a crisis of confidence. As a result, the 2027 elections will likely be a litmus test for whether these “safety nets” protect the vote or merely protect the status quo.