By Our Reporter
The Senate has set up a seven-member ad hoc committee to harmonise lawmakers’ submissions on the proposed amendment of the Electoral Act, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The decision followed a three-hour closed-door executive session held on Thursday to further examine the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill currently before the National Assembly.
Announcing the resolution, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee would synthesise senators’ views and address outstanding issues in the proposed amendments.
He disclosed that the panel would be chaired by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Niyi Adegbonmire. Other members are Senators Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.
According to Akpabio, the committee has a maximum of three days to conclude its assignment and submit its report by Tuesday.
The Senate had earlier stepped down consideration of the Electoral Act amendment report to allow for deeper scrutiny, citing the far-reaching implications of the legislation on Nigeria’s democratic process.
Although the House of Representatives has passed the bill, Akpabio stressed that the Senate must exercise due diligence before concurrence.
The proposed amendments include stiffer penalties for electoral offences such as vote-buying and result falsification, the introduction of electronic voter identification, mandatory electronic transmission of results, and the recognition of prisoners’ voting rights.
Lawmakers say the reforms are aimed at enhancing transparency, strengthening electoral integrity, and boosting public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 polls.