The Senate of Nigeria on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following intense deliberations and a contentious division over Clause 60 concerning electronic transmission of election results.
Proceedings began with a demand for division raised by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
The Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, also weighed in, emphasizing that revisiting previously ruled provisions would be out of order. The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, however, clarified that his motion for rescission validated Abaribe’s call for review.
During the division, 55 senators voted in support of maintaining the clause with its current proviso, while 15 opposition senators opposed it.
Following the vote, the Senate formally moved to rescind the earlier passage and referred the bill to the Committee of the Whole for detailed reconsideration and reenactment.
The passage of the bill marks a crucial step in Nigeria’s electoral reform process, while ensuring that technical and logistical considerations are addressed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
