By Muhammad Mamman
The National Assembly of Nigeria is set to conclude the long-awaited harmonisation of Nigeria’s Electoral Act, raising hopes of sweeping reforms ahead of future elections.
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, disclosed this on Monday, saying lawmakers were in the final stages of reconciling discrepancies between amendments passed by both chambers of parliament.
Kalu explained that the harmonisation process — a technical but critical legislative step — is aimed at producing a single, unified version of the Electoral Act for transmission to the President for assent. He noted that the exercise would be completed “very soon”, paving the way for a strengthened legal framework to guide Nigeria’s electoral process.
According to him, the revised law is expected to address key operational gaps identified during recent elections, including provisions on election logistics, the use of technology, timelines for dispute resolution and clearer roles for electoral officials.
“The intention is to ensure that our electoral laws reflect current realities and promote transparency, credibility and public confidence in the democratic process,” Kalu said.
He added that lawmakers are committed to delivering reforms that will deepen democracy and guarantee freer, fairer and more credible elections across the country.
Political analysts say the harmonisation represents a crucial milestone, as delays in reconciling legislative versions have previously stalled important reforms. Once finalised and signed into law, the amended Electoral Act is expected to significantly shape how future elections are conducted.
The development comes amid growing public calls for stronger electoral safeguards and institutional reforms to reinforce Nigeria’s democratic foundations.
