By Sandra Kenneth
The Nigerian Senate has categorically ruled out reopening or amending the Electoral Act 2026 before the upcoming 2027 general elections.
This decision comes despite fresh legal questions and debates surrounding party membership registers and candidate nominations triggered by a recent Supreme Court judgment.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, maintained that the National Assembly has concluded all legislative work on the electoral framework. He emphasized that lawmakers will not alter the legislation while political parties are actively preparing for the polls.
Why the Senate Refuses to Amend the Law
In an exclusive statement, Adaramodu warned that tampering with or halting the electoral act midway through the process would disrupt ongoing preparations and amount to shifting the goalpost in the middle of the game.
Key points highlighted by the Senate include:
Completed Legislative Process: The electoral bill has already been fully processed, passed, and assented to into law for the 2027 elections.
Advanced Party Preparations: Political parties have already utilized the current framework to conduct primaries and produce candidates scheduled to contest upcoming elections.
Post-Election Review: The Senate stated that any necessary reviews, amendments, or restructuring of the law will only be considered after the 2027 general elections are concluded.
Background: The Supreme Court Judgment
The Senate’s stance follows a unanimous judgment by a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court, which overturned an earlier July decision by the Court of Appeal.
The apex court’s ruling:
Restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
Upheld statutory provisions regulating political party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures, such as direct primaries and consensus.
Set aside the lower court’s nullification of aspects of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable for 2027.
While the Supreme Court judgment has renewed legal debates over compliance—particularly regarding candidates whose membership records or waivers might face scrutiny—the National Assembly maintains that the law remains operational and will govern the 2027 polls without legislative interruption.
