The Senate has passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 after a tense session marked by shouting, protests, and a split vote over result transmission rules.
Lawmakers approved Clause 60 after a division requested by Enyinnaya Abaribe, who opposed a provision allowing manual result transmission if electronic systems fail. Fifteen senators voted against the clause, while 55 backed it.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio said he believed the request for a division had earlier been withdrawn, but opposition members objected. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin argued it was out of order to revisit a matter already ruled on. The disagreement sparked a brief confrontation between Abaribe and Sunday Karimi.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele defended Abaribe’s request, noting that a motion to rescind earlier decisions meant previous rulings no longer applied. Akpabio upheld the point of order and asked Abaribe to formally present his motion.
Earlier, the chamber suspended proceedings and entered a closed session after lawmakers raised concerns about the bill’s timing and technical errors. Bamidele moved a motion to reverse the earlier passage and return the draft to the Committee of the Whole for fresh review.
He said the step followed consultation with the Independent National Electoral Commission, which fixed the 2027 general election for February. Lawmakers warned that the date could clash with legal timelines requiring elections at least 360 days before tenure ends. Some senators also raised concerns that polls during Ramadan might affect turnout and logistics.
The motion also cited drafting flaws across several clauses, including numbering and cross-referencing errors.
After debate and revisions, the Senate passed the bill, clearing it for the next stage in the legislative process.
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