2027 polls: CSO faults Senate delay on Electoral Act Bill

By Abubakar Yunusa

A civil society organisation, Kimpact Development Initiative, has warned that the Senate’s delay in passing the Electoral Act Amendment Bill poses risks to Nigeria’s democracy as preparations for the 2027 General Elections gather pace.

The group said the failure of the Red Chamber to consider the bill before proceeding on its end-of-year recess had stalled critical electoral reforms needed to guarantee credible polls.

In December 2025, the House of Representatives passed the Electoral Act Bill shortly before embarking on recess, signalling its readiness to prioritise reforms ahead of the next election cycle.

However, the Senate did not consider the bill, thereby preventing the transmission of the proposed law to the President for assent, as required by Nigeria’s bicameral legislative process.

KDI said the delay was troubling, given the proximity of the 2027 elections and the need for sufficient lead time for the Independent National Electoral Commission, political parties and other stakeholders to familiarise themselves with new legal provisions.

The organisation noted that the absence of a new Electoral Act had also created uncertainty around key reforms contained in the bill, including electoral administration, dispute resolution and measures to strengthen the integrity of the process.

Speaking on African Independent Television’s current affairs programme, Democracy Today, the Head of Research and Strategy at KDI, Oluwafemi Adebayo, said civil society groups and young Nigerians were increasingly worried about the implications of the delay.

He said, “From the civil society perspective and from young people who have invested enormous energy in the conversation around electoral reform, this situation is not healthy. It is worrisome and the implications are far-reaching.”

Adebayo recalled that under the Electoral Act 2022, the notice of election is expected to be issued at least one year before polls, stressing that once such notice is released, it becomes difficult to amend electoral laws.

“Once the notice of election comes out, it is like entering another phase. In practical terms, 2027 has started,” he said, citing past instances where electoral reforms were resisted on grounds of proximity to elections.

He questioned why the Senate had yet to act on the bill, despite what he described as commendable work by the House of Representatives, which considered the amendments clause by clause.

Adebayo also expressed concern over the Senate’s plan to resume plenary on January 27, noting that many public and private institutions had already resumed work for the year.

“We are racing against time. Political activities have unofficially started, and the closer we get to the elections, the harder it becomes to implement reforms,” he said.

The KDI official urged the Senate to prioritise the bill immediately upon resumption, warning that further delays could undermine public confidence and institutional preparedness for the 2027 elections.

He also called on Nigerians to engage their senators at the constituency level, saying elected lawmakers must be held accountable to the people they represent.