The Nigerian Senate has suspended further deliberation on the proposed amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act, citing concerns over the lack of specificity in the draft amendment and the need for clearer details on the provisions to be altered.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio expressed frustration over the unclear repeal of the existing Electoral Act, questioning the need for such ambiguity.
The bill, which aims to replace the 2022 Act with a new legal framework for managing elections in Nigeria, proposes several key innovations, including:
- Early Release of INEC Funds: To ensure timely funding for electoral activities
- Continuous Voter Registration: To enable citizens to register and update their voter information throughout the year
- Digital Result Registers and QR-Coded Voter IDs: To enhance transparency and reduce electoral disputes
- Stricter Timelines for Party Primaries and Candidate Nominations: To promote orderly electoral processes
The Senate’s decision to step down the bill follows a heated debate among lawmakers, with some senators expressing concerns over the extent and clarity of the proposed reforms. The bill’s sponsor, Senator Simon Lalong, argued that the proposed legislation seeks to enhance transparency, efficiency, and fairness in elections, ensure equal participation of political parties, and strengthen the independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
The Senate will revisit the bill once senators have completed consultations and clarifications on its provisions.
