Senate passes Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 after tense debate on Clause 60, addressing electronic transmission and 2027 election scheduling issues

The Senate has officially passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following intense debates over Clause 60 concerning electronic transmission of election results.

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The upper chamber’s proceedings were initially stalled when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South) called for a division on the clause, proposing that manual transmission should not replace electronic transmission if network failures occur. After a division vote, 55 senators supported the provision, while 15 opposed.

The bill had earlier been returned to the Committee of the Whole for reconsideration due to technical inconsistencies and potential conflicts with the 360-day election scheduling requirement, especially given the 2027 general elections are slated for February, which could coincide with Ramadan.

Other highlighted discrepancies included Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143, affecting cross-references, numbering, and internal consistency of the legislation.

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With the passage of the amendment, the Senate aims to ensure clarity, credibility, and transparency in Nigeria’s electoral process, particularly the use of electronic transmission for results.