Proceedings in the Senate were temporarily stalled on Tuesday during clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following disagreements over provisions affecting the 2027 general elections.
The disruption occurred after the red chamber dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to reconsider the bill, in line with a motion to rescind its earlier passage. The motion, which was seconded by lawmakers, allowed senators to re-examine the proposed legislation amid emerging concerns.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio presided over the session, taking senators through the clauses sequentially. However, deliberations were interrupted at Clause 60 when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South) raised a point of order, triggering murmurs across the chamber.
Following the intervention, several senators were seen conferring in small groups, while others approached the Senate President’s desk for consultations. The development prompted the leadership to move the session into a closed-door meeting.
Earlier, the Senate resolved to revisit the bill after raising concerns about the timing of the 2027 general elections and perceived technical inconsistencies in the legislation.
Invoking Order 52(6) of the Senate Standing Orders, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved the motion to rescind the earlier decision and return the bill to the Committee of the Whole for fresh deliberations.
Bamidele explained that the action followed the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) announcement of a timetable scheduling the 2027 general elections for February 2027, after consultations with the leadership of the National Assembly.
According to the Senate Leader, stakeholders had expressed concerns that the proposed timetable may conflict with certain provisions of the amended law, particularly the requirement that elections be conducted not later than 360 days before the expiration of tenure.
He warned that the 360-day notice requirement contained in Clause 28 could potentially result in the scheduling of key elections during the Ramadan period, thereby raising constitutional and practical concerns.
The Senate is expected to continue deliberations on the bill after consultations.
