Abuja — The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room expresses grave concern over the failure of the National Assembly to conclude passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill in 2025 and the Senate's continued delay in acting on a Bill already passed by the House of Representatives. This inaction, now compounded by a prolonged National Assembly recess extending into 2026, undermines Nigeria's electoral reform process and threatens timely preparations for the 2027 General Elections.
Situation Room recalls that the House of Representatives completed legislative action on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, passing it at Third Reading on 23 December 2025 after extensive consideration. The Bill seeks to address critical deficiencies observed in recent elections, including clearer legal backing for electronic transmission of results, early voting, and tougher sanctions for electoral offences.
In contrast, the Senate has failed to discharge its constitutional responsibility on this priority legislation. Although the Bill passed Second Reading in the Senate on 22 October 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 despite the public commitment of the Joint Committees on Electoral Matters of both chambers, following their retreat in October 2025, to ensure passage of the Bill before the end of the year.
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This delay is inexcusable. Electoral reform has been on the national agenda for several years. The issues addressed in the Bill are neither novel nor unforeseen. Both chambers of the 10th National Assembly identified electoral reform as a core legislative priority. The failure of the Senate to conclude work on a Bill already passed by the House reflects poor legislative coordination, weak prioritisation, and a troubling disregard for Nigeria's electoral timelines.
Situation Room stresses that electoral reform is not routine legislation. It is a time-sensitive national obligation. INEC is legally required to issue the Notice of Election in February 2026. For INEC to plan, implement, and sensitize stakeholders under a revised legal framework, the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill must be passed and assented to well before then. Any further slippage places the entire 2027 election cycle at risk.
The continued legislative inertia also mirrors a dangerous historical pattern. The National Assembly itself has acknowledged that the 2022 Electoral Act Amendment Bill failed to receive presidential assent in time because it was transmitted late. It is unacceptable that the same mistake is now being repeated, despite clear lessons from the past.
Situation Room is further alarmed that this delay has been worsened by an extended National Assembly recess. In established democracies, legislatures do not remain inactive when urgent national priorities are outstanding. The United Kingdom Parliament resumed sittings on 5 January 2026, and the United States Congress is constitutionally required to reconvene on 3 January each year. Other African parliaments, including those of Kenya and South Africa, maintain structured calendars that allow priority legislation to proceed even during recess periods. Nigeria's prolonged legislative inactivity in the face of urgent electoral reforms is indefensible.
The risks of continued delay are severe. An uncertain legal framework undermines early preparation by INEC, weakens voter education, and increases the likelihood of avoidable disputes close to the election period. History shows that last-minute electoral reforms breed confusion, fuel mistrust, and erode the credibility of elections.
While Situation Room notes recent assurances by Senate leadership that the Bill will be prioritised upon resumption, Nigerians have heard similar promises before. What is required now is action, not assurances.
CALLS TO ACTION
Accordingly, the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room calls on the National Assembly, and particularly the Senate, to:
- Immediately prioritise the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill upon resumption on 27 January 2026, conclude all outstanding legislative action on it without further delay, and pass the Bill within January 2026.
- Ensure immediate transmission of the Bill to the President for assent upon passage, so that the revised legal framework is in force well ahead of the 2027 General Elections.
- Demonstrate effective inter-chamber coordination between the Senate and the House of Representatives to prevent further legislative bottlenecks on priority national legislation.
CONCLUSION
Credible elections are the foundation of democratic governance and national stability. Nigeria cannot afford to drift into another election cycle with unresolved legal uncertainties, especially when timely action could have prevented them.
The Senate must act decisively on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill immediately upon resumption on 27 January 2026 and ensure that it is transmitted to the President for assent without delay. Anything short of this would amount to a failure of legislative responsibility and a betrayal of Nigerians' legitimate expectation for credible, well-prepared elections in 2027.
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SIGNED:
Yunusa Z. Ya'uConvener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Mma OdiCo-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Celestine OdoCo-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in support of credible elections and governance in Nigeria numbering more than seventy. The Steering Committee is made up of: Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance and Accountability (formerly Alliance for Credible Elections, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Kimpact Development Initiative, Democratic Action Group (DAG), Women's Rights to Education Programme, Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD), DIG Ebonyi, Life and Peace Development Organization (LAPDO), Rural Youth Initiative, Challenged Parenthood Initiative (CPI), Centre for Health and Development in Africa (CHEDA) and Josemaria Escriva Foundation.
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