NEWS
Senate Draws Line on Electoral Act Review, Says No Change Before 2027 Elections
The Senate has ruled out any immediate amendment or review of the Electoral Act 2026, insisting that the legislation will remain the legal framework guiding the conduct of the 2027 general elections despite the recent Supreme Court judgment restoring key provisions of the law.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, said the National Assembly had already completed the latest electoral reform process and that lawmakers would not alter the rules in the middle of preparations for the forthcoming elections.
Adaramodu maintained that the Electoral Act 2026 had been duly passed by the National Assembly, assented to and already put into effect, making any immediate attempt to change its provisions impractical.
He explained that the law was specifically designed to provide the framework for the 2027 electoral cycle and that any concerns, petitions or proposals for amendments could be considered after the elections.
The senator’s position effectively closes the door, at least for now, on renewed legislative action over provisions of the Electoral Act that have become the subject of political and legal debate following the Supreme Court’s latest ruling.
The development comes days after the Supreme Court unanimously restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, overturning an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal which had declared the provisions unconstitutional.
A seven-member panel of the apex court held that the disputed provisions were not inconsistent with the Constitution and consequently set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The restored provisions have significant implications for political parties and candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) deal with political party membership registers and the participation of party members in nomination processes, while Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as mechanisms through which political parties can select their candidates.
The Supreme Court judgment has consequently generated renewed political attention, particularly over questions surrounding party membership, membership waivers and the processes through which candidates emerged from party primaries.
Despite the concerns, several political parties have maintained that their candidates remain valid and eligible to participate in the 2027 elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party, Allied People’s Movement and Labour Party are among the parties that have rejected suggestions that the judgment automatically puts the candidacies of their nominees in jeopardy.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress has also dismissed concerns over the possible impact of the judgment on the candidacies of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.
The party argued that the Supreme Court judgment should not be interpreted through individual assumptions and maintained that anyone questioning the eligibility of a particular candidate should pursue the matter through the appropriate judicial channels.
The legal controversy surrounding the Electoral Act stems from a constitutional challenge to the disputed provisions. The Court of Appeal had, in July, declared Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) unconstitutional, prompting the Independent National Electoral Commission to appeal the decision before the Supreme Court.
With the apex court now restoring the provisions and the Senate insisting that the Electoral Act 2026 remains firmly in force, political parties and candidates are expected to proceed with the 2027 electoral preparations under the existing legal framework.
For the National Assembly, any fresh debate over amendments to the legislation will have to wait until after the 2027 elections, meaning the rules currently guiding candidate selection, party membership and other electoral processes are set to remain in place throughout the election cycle.