The Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) has issued an urgent call to the Nigerian Senate, warning that the continued delay in passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill threatens the integrity of the 2027 general elections and the stability of the nation’s democracy.
Speaking on AIT’s Democracy Today, Oluwafemi Adebayo, KDI’s strategy chief expressed deep concern that the Senate allowed its end-of-year recess to stall deliberations on the critical electoral reform bill. This legislative bottleneck persists despite the House of Representatives already passing the bill in December 2025.
While the House of Representatives has signaled its readiness for reform, the absence of Senate concurrence has halted the bicameral progression of the bill, preventing its transition to the next stage. Without Senate concurrence, the bill cannot be transmitted to the President for assent, leaving critical improvements to Nigeria’s electoral framework in limbo.
“The discrepancy in urgency between the two chambers is worrying,” stated Adebayo. “By failing to consider the bill before the recess, the Senate has created unnecessary uncertainty around the administration and credibility of the upcoming 2027 polls.”
KDI highlighted a significant legal hurdle: the Electoral Act 2022 mandates that the official Notice of Election be issued at least 360 days before polling day. Historically and legally, once this notice is released, amending electoral laws becomes difficult and often controversial.
Key reforms currently at risk include:
Administrative Enhancements: Streamlining election day logistics.
Dispute Resolution: Refining the legal process for contesting results to ensure swifter justice.
Integrity Measures: Strengthening safeguards against fraud and systemic manipulation.
KDI emphasizes that for the 2027 elections to be perceived as free and fair, the legal framework must be finalized well in advance. Late-stage amendments often lead to confusion for both the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the voting public.
“Nigerians are watching,” Adebayo added. “The Senate must prioritize this bill immediately upon their return to ensure that the 2027 elections are governed by a law that reflects the will and aspirations of the people.”
