The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has criticised the Senate over delays in passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025, warning that continued inaction could undermine public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The group made the call on Wednesday during an emergency press conference held at the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) office in Kano, following the Senate’s adjournment without a decision on the bill.
Speaking at the briefing, the Convener of the Situation Room, Comrade Y. Z. Ya’u, expressed concern that the Senate had yet to act on the amendment, despite its passage by the House of Representatives in December 2025.
Ya’u warned that the delay could force the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the 2027 general elections under the existing Electoral Act, which he described as being riddled with ambiguities.
He recalled that during the 2023 general elections, INEC assured Nigerians of the extensive deployment of technology, particularly the electronic transmission of results, to enhance transparency and accountability. However, he noted that the failure to electronically transmit results later became a major issue in election petitions, with courts ruling that the law did not explicitly mandate such transmission.
According to him, the proposed amendment seeks to close these gaps by making electronic transmission of results mandatory, strengthening penalties for electoral offences, granting greater financial autonomy to INEC, and promoting internal party democracy through clearer rules on party primaries and authenticated membership registers.
He explained that the bill was the outcome of extensive consultations and public hearings conducted by committees of both chambers of the National Assembly over the past two to three years.
“The House of Representatives has completed all legislative stages and passed the bill. What remains is concurrence by the Senate. Unfortunately, the Senate went on recess in December without acting on it and has now adjourned again,” Ya’u said.
He further warned that INEC is legally required to release the timetable for the 2027 elections by April, adding that failure to pass the amendment in time could lead the commission to issue the timetable based on the old law.
“This would mean that electronic transmission of results would remain discretionary, sanctions for electoral offenders would be weak, and critical reforms would be lost,” he added.
Ya’u linked declining voter turnout in recent elections to a growing loss of confidence in the electoral system, stressing that the passage of the amendment bill is essential to restoring public trust and strengthening Nigeria’s democracy.
The Situation Room urged the Senate to reconvene and pass the bill within the next few days, describing the matter as one of national importance that should not be delayed by recess or procedural excuses.
He cautioned that prolonged delay could have serious implications for democratic stability, noting that sustained frustration among citizens could deepen if electoral reforms continue to be stalled.
“The Senate must act with urgency and patriotism. This law should be passed immediately and transmitted to the President for assent, so Nigerians can be assured that improved electoral laws will govern the 2027 elections,” Ya’u said.
The briefing ended with a call on senators to prioritise the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill in the interest of democracy and national stability.
