The Nigerian Senate has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to a newly constituted ad hoc committee to conclude its work on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026. The move is intended to pave the way for final consideration by the “Red Chamber” during its next plenary.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the directive on Thursday following a closed-door session where lawmakers deliberated on the initial report of the bill.
Mandate and Composition
According to Akpabio, the small committee was established to harmonize the diverse views of lawmakers and refine the proposed legislation for final deliberation.
“The Senate has set up a small committee to further make contributions, galvanize, and distill all the opinions of distinguished senators and present them to us for final deliberation on Tuesday,” Akpabio stated.
For technical reasons, Senator Niyi Adegbonmire, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, was selected to lead the group. The Clerk of the Senate will serve as the committee’s secretary.
The committee members include:
• Senator Niyi Adegbonmire (Chairman)
• Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central)
• Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto South)
• Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North)
• Mohammed Goje (Gombe Central)
• Tony Nwoye (Anambra North)
• Titus Zam (Benue North-West)
Accelerated Timeline
The Senate President emphasized that the committee has a maximum of three days to submit its report, ensuring it is ready for the upcoming Tuesday plenary session.
The proposed amendments to the Electoral Act are expected to introduce critical reforms to Nigeria’s voting framework. The Senate’s aggressive timeline underscores a sense of urgency to finalize the legal infrastructure well ahead of future electoral cycles.
