From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Nigerian Senate, on Tuesday, witnessed a dramatic session in Abuja as it rescinded, re-enacted, and finally passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026, retaining provisions for electronic transmission of election results while keeping a manual backup to safeguard transparency in areas with poor network coverage.
The tense deliberations, especially over Clause 60, drew attention to the delicate balance between technological innovation and practical realities in Nigeria’s electoral process.
The Senate’s action followed a motion to rescind the Bill, initially passed on February 10, 2026, due to concerns over technical inconsistencies and potential clashes with the 2027 general elections calendar.
Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) moved the rescission to recommit the legislation to the Committee of the Whole, citing issues with multiple clauses, the timing of the elections during Ramadan, and the need to ensure a legally consistent and credible framework.
Clause 60, governing the counting and transmission of votes, became the flashpoint of debate.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South) challenged subsection (3), which mandates electronic transmission but allows Form EC8A as the primary source if electronic systems fail. Following a division under Order 72(1), 55 senators, including APC members and a few minority lawmakers, voted in favour of retaining the manual backup, while 16 opposed reliance on manual procedures.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin presided over a session marked by procedural clashes, closed-door consultations, and spirited arguments from both majority and opposition senators.
Senate Leader, Bamidele, emphasised that the rescission and re-enactment process nullified prior decisions, allowing a thorough clause-by-clause review to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with INEC’s revised electoral timetable.
The re-enacted Bill also sought to reschedule the 2027 general elections to February 13, 2027, avoiding the Ramadan period and ensuring broader voter participation.
Senator Simon Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, noted that the amendments were designed to strengthen transparency, enhance public confidence in the electoral process, and accommodate practical challenges in polling units across the country.
Tuesday’s passage of the Electoral Act 2026 marks a decisive moment in Nigeria’s electoral legislation, combining electronic efficiency with manual safeguards to ensure the integrity and inclusiveness of the 2027 elections.
