Senate President Akpabio Discloses When Nigeria’s Electoral Act Will Be Ready for 2027 Polls
- Senate President Akpabio has assured Nigerians that the Electoral Act amendments will be ready for the 2027 elections
- The Senate has scheduled work on the Electoral Bill 2025 to ensure presidential approval by early February
- AdvoKC Foundation urged a timely passage, noting reforms such as electronic results, NIN voter registration, and others
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has assured Nigerians that changes to the Electoral Act will be ready for the 2027 elections.
Source: Facebook
His Special Adviser, Dr. Monday Ubani (SAN), delivered the message after weeks of calls from AdvoKC Foundation for the Senate to end its recess and focus on the Electoral Bill 2025.
On Monday, January 19, Dr. Ubani told reporters that the Senate will start work on the bill as soon as it returns on Tuesday, January 27, and he is confident it will pass quickly.
He said the leadership plans for presidential approval by the first week of February 2026, which is important so INEC can issue its Notice of Election at least a year before voting.
He said: “With the House of Representatives having already passed its version, the process is approaching its final stages.”
“Once the Senate resumes, they will certainly pass it.”
Electoral reforms urged as Senate delays
AdvoKC Foundation warned that if the amendment isn’t passed before INEC’s Notice, the next elections will run under the flawed 2022 Act, hurting reforms and public trust.
“The Electoral Bill 2025 contains some of the most transformative provisions Nigeria has seen in recent years,” the Foundation said, pointing to early release of INEC funds, audited accounts, NIN-based voter registration, clear timelines, early voting, and expanded inmate voting rights.
Source: Facebook
Dr. Ubani said the 2022 Act showed problems in the 2023 elections, especially in legal cases and result handling. He said sending results electronically in real time will reduce cheating and make them easy to check. The amendment also lets one officer or lawyer submit documents, instead of needing witnesses from every polling unit.
AdvoKC Foundation welcomed the assurance but stressed that the focus is now on execution. The Senate had previously skipped consideration of its own Electoral Bill, SB 903, even after the committee report appeared on the Order Paper on December 3, 2025, and then went on recess until January 27. The Foundation noted this delay contrasts with how quickly other bills were passed.
“We urge Senate President Akpabio and the leadership of the 10th National Assembly to reconvene without delay and pass the 2025 Electoral Act Amendment Bill in the interest of our democracy,” AdvoKC said.
Dr. Ubani added that the Senate leadership plans to brief the media and judiciary correspondents after the bill is passed to ensure Nigerians understand the new provisions.
For AdvoKC Foundation, this puts the Senate on record, and the coming weeks will show if the reforms are delivered on time.
INEC denies releasing 2027 election timetable
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted claims circulating online that it has released the official timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.
The commission said the alleged timetable, complete with specific dates for elections, campaigns, and primaries, is fabricated and misleading, stressing that no official document has been issued yet.
INEC urged Nigerians, political parties, and stakeholders to rely only on its verified channels for accurate information, assuring that the legitimate timetable will be shared when ready.
Supreme Court battle between Akpabio, Natasha begins
Legit.ng reported earlier that Senate President Godswill Akpabio approached the Supreme Court to challenge appellate rulings concerning the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.
The suit lists Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Nigerian Senate, and Senator Neda Imasuen as respondents. Akpabio seeks leave to appeal, arguing the Senate acted lawfully under Section 60 of the Constitution.
Senator Natasha maintains her suspension was unlawful and violated her right to a fair hearing. Legal observers say the Supreme Court’s ruling could set a landmark precedent on legislative autonomy, judicial oversight, and separation of powers in Nigeria.
Source: Legit.ng
