By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian Senate has officially constituted a committee to drive the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025.
The committee features a blend of seasoned administrators and legal experts.
The decision followed a three-hour closed-door executive session held on Thursday, during which senators conducted a deeper review of the far-reaching electoral reforms.
Announcing the outcome of the session, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio said the committee was mandated to “contribute, galvanise and distil the opinions of senators on the bill.”
The committee, which will be chaired by Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, includes Senators Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.
Akpabio said the panel has up to three days to complete its assignment and report back to the Senate by Tuesday.
The Senate had earlier, on Wednesday, stepped down consideration of the report on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill to allow for an executive session and more rigorous scrutiny of the proposed amendments.
The decision followed plenary deliberations on the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, which was presented in the absence of its chairman, Senator Simon Lalong.
Lawmakers agreed that further debate should be deferred to give senators adequate time to study the bill, citing its significant implications for Nigeria’s electoral process.
Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, Akpabio stressed that the Senate must exercise due diligence.
“This is a very important bill, especially as we approach another election cycle. We must take our time to ensure justice is done to all, so that we do not end up at the tribunal,” he said.
According to the committee’s report, a clause-by-clause review indicates that the bill would strengthen electoral integrity, enhance transparency, and boost public confidence in the electoral system.
The committee recommended the passage of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the reforms would expand voter participation, curb electoral malpractice, and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
