The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has slammed the brakes on what it described as the Senate’s snail-paced handling of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, warning that the delay could derail the nation’s democratic clock.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja on Thursday, the group’s convener, Yunusa Ya’u, expressed dismay that while the House of Representatives has crossed the finish line, the Senate appears stuck at the starting blocks.
Ya’u urged the upper chamber to treat the bill as a matter of urgency and ensure its passage immediately lawmakers return on Jan. 27, insisting that any further hesitation would amount to playing Russian roulette with Nigeria’s electoral future.
According to him, the prolonged delay poses a serious threat to ongoing electoral reforms and could compromise early preparations for the 2027 general elections.
“The House of Representatives passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill at its third reading on Dec. 23, 2025 after extensive deliberations.
“The bill seeks to address key weaknesses observed in recent elections, including clearer legal backing for electronic transmission of results, early voting and tougher sanctions for electoral offences.
“However, the senate has failed to discharge its constitutional responsibility on this priority legislation.
“Although the bill passed second reading in senate on Oct. 22, 2025, it was stepped down over procedural issues and never returned for final consideration before the senate adjourned for its end-of-year recess.
“This is in spite of a public commitment by the Joint Committees on Electoral Matters of both chambers in October 2025 to ensure passage of the bill before the end of the year,” he said.
Describing the delay as indefensible, Ya’u stressed that electoral reform is not a casual legislative exercise but a race against time with national consequences.
“The senate’s failure to conclude action on a bill already passed by the House reflects poor prioritisation, weak inter-chamber coordination and a troubling disregard for Nigeria’s electoral timelines,” he said.
He noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is by law expected to issue election notices in February, adding that the window for error is dangerously narrow.
“Situation Room stresses that for INEC to plan, implement and sensitise stakeholders under a revised legal framework, the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill must be passed and assented to well before then.”
Ya’u warned that any additional delay could throw the entire 2027 election cycle into uncertainty.
He further observed that the current situation mirrors an all-too-familiar mistake.
“The group notes that the delay repeats a dangerous historical pattern.
“The National Assembly has previously acknowledged that the 2022 Electoral Act Amendment Bill failed to receive presidential assent in time because it was transmitted late to the presidency.
“It is unacceptable that the same mistake is now being repeated, in spite of the clear lessons from the past,” Ya’u said.
