2027: Electoral Act Delay Raises Concerns

 

By Admin 

Fresh concerns have emerged over the conduct of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections following delays by the National Assembly in concluding amendments to the Electoral Act. 

Stakeholders warn that unless lawmakers finalise the amendment process within the next three weeks and secure immediate presidential assent, the elections may either be postponed or conducted under the existing Electoral Act 2022.

Anxiety heightened after the House of Representatives on Thursday stepped down consideration of the Electoral Act amendment bill, citing insufficient copies of the proposed amendments for lawmakers.

The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, ruled that informed debate could not proceed without adequate documentation and deferred deliberation. 

The House also adjourned plenary for two weeks to allow committees engage in the defence of the 2026 budget by ministries, departments and agencies, further shrinking the window for electoral reforms ahead of 2027.

The delay has alarmed opposition parties and civil society organisations, who fear disruption of Nigeria’s tightly regulated electoral timetable. 

Under Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is required to issue a notice of election at least 360 days before polling day. 

If the presidential election is to hold on February 20, 2027, INEC must publish the notice on or before February 24, 2026—leaving little room for the introduction and implementation of new legal provisions.

The situation is further complicated by a proposed amendment seeking to move presidential and gubernatorial elections to November 2026. 

Lawmakers, at a joint public hearing in October 2025, suggested that such elections should be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of incumbents’ tenure on May 29, 2027. 

However, without an amended law in force and with the current 360-day notice requirement still binding, the proposed timetable risks clashing with existing statutory deadlines.

Despite these challenges, the National Assembly is considering sweeping electoral reforms, including conducting all elections on the same day, mandatory electronic transmission of results, early voting for security personnel and election officials, diaspora voting, stricter campaign finance controls, and the conclusion of election disputes before winners are sworn in. 

The House Committee on Electoral Matters said the proposals aim to shorten litigation timelines and stabilise the electoral calendar.

In contrast to the House’s pause, the Senate has moved to fast-track its process by constituting a seven-member ad hoc committee to harmonise senators’ positions on the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025. 

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the committee, chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, has 48 hours to conclude its assignment and report back to plenary.

Key proposed amendments include tougher penalties for electoral offences, higher fines for nomination-related violations, stricter sanctions for vote trading, mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal, expanded use of BVAS, tighter regulation of party primaries, and safeguards against abuse of vulnerable voters.

However, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the APC-dominated National Assembly of deliberately stalling the bill to undermine the credibility of the 2027 elections. 

The party warned that continued delays could create uncertainty for INEC and political parties, weaken transparency safeguards, and erode public confidence in the electoral process.

Legal experts and civil society groups have echoed these concerns, cautioning that late amendments could trigger a flood of pre-election litigation and operational challenges. 

INEC has consistently stressed that early passage of the Electoral Act is essential for logistics, procurement, training and voter education, warning that compressed timelines heighten the risk of failures.

With the House delaying debate and the Senate still consulting, uncertainty now looms over the fate of electoral reforms and the smooth conduct of the 2027 polls. Stakeholders insist that only swift, transparent and bipartisan legislative action can avert a potential crisis and safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s next general elections.