Senate rejects fresh amendment to 2026 Electoral Act, tells opposition to follow due process
The Senate has dismissed fresh calls by opposition leaders seeking another amendment to the 2026 Electoral Act, insisting that any proposed changes must follow laid down legislative procedures within the
The Senate has dismissed fresh calls by opposition leaders seeking another amendment to the 2026 Electoral Act, insisting that any proposed changes must follow laid down legislative procedures within the National Assembly.
The position of the upper chamber followed a press conference in Abuja by leaders of opposition parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party, who urged lawmakers to urgently review aspects of the newly signed law.
The opposition leaders described certain provisions of the Act as unfair and skewed ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The 2026 Electoral Act was recently passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 18.
Among other changes, the new law limits political parties to direct primaries and consensus options in selecting candidates. Under the previous 2022 Act, parties could choose from direct primaries, indirect primaries through delegates, or consensus arrangements.
The law also shortens campaign periods and timelines for party primaries.
In addition, funding for the Independent National Electoral Commission will now be released six months before an election, instead of 12 months as provided under the previous legislation.
Reacting to the opposition’s demand, Senate spokesman, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu (APC - Ekiti South), advised aggrieved political actors to channel their concerns through their representatives in the National Assembly rather than making public pronouncements.
“Electoral Act again? Do you abort a pregnancy after the naming ceremony? But no problem. If they (opposition leaders) have any grey areas, they can just make their personal proposals to their legislators and they will bring them.
“Once they bring it to the National Assembly, we will look at it,” Adaramodu told reporters.
Also speaking, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu stressed that the constitutional power to amend the Electoral Act resides exclusively with the National Assembly.
He cautioned political actors against making statements capable of heightening tension in the country and urged them to prepare for the 2027 elections if they are dissatisfied with the current administration.
“The opposition should stop heating up the polity. The route they are taking is not the right one. They should leave this route because it can only lead to chaos.
“If they are not comfortable with the current administration, they should change it by contesting against Mr President in 2027 and see if they can defeat him. In the meantime, they should stop heating up the polity,” he said.
