Senate proceedings were briefly stalled on Tuesday as lawmakers began a clause-by-clause review of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a motion to rescind its earlier amendment.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the motion, formally seconded, led the chamber to dissolve into the Committee of the Whole for detailed reconsideration of the bill.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio guided deliberations through the clauses, but discussions were disrupted at Clause 60 when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC, Abia South) raised a point of order, prompting consultations among lawmakers and moving the session into a closed-door meeting.
The motion to reverse the bill’s earlier passage, moved by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele under Order 52(6), was prompted by the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) announcement of the 2027 elections timetable.
READ ALSO: Protesters Return To NASS, Demand Mandatory Election Results Transmission
Stakeholders raised concerns that the 360-day notice requirement in Clause 28 could schedule the elections during Ramadan, potentially affecting voter turnout, logistics, and the inclusiveness and credibility of the process.
The review also highlighted technical inconsistencies in the bill, including discrepancies in the Long Title and Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143, affecting cross-referencing, serial numbering, and overall internal consistency of the legislation.