The Senate has passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, moving the legislation forward in the National Assembly’s legislative process.

The bill’s passage in the upper chamber represents a key step in efforts to update Nigeria’s electoral legal framework ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Electoral Act Amendment Bill seeks to update and strengthen the existing Electoral Act, which governs the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

Proposed amendments include measures on voter accreditation, result transmission, and electoral offences, among other matters. The bill has been the subject of extensive legislative consideration and public discussion.

During plenary, senators debated provisions of the bill and subsequently approved it for transmission to the next stage of the legislative process.

The Senate’s passage follows detailed committee work, including input from the Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, which reviewed the bill’s provisions and reported to the chamber.

The passage of the bill by the Senate sets the stage for its onward transmission to the House of Representatives for concurrence and subsequent finalisation before presentation to the President for assent.

Lawmakers said the process aims to ensure legislative scrutiny and alignment with constitutional requirements.

A statement from the Senate said: “The passage of this amendment bill reflects the National Assembly’s commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral legal framework through comprehensive legislative review and action.”

Lawmakers and stakeholders have emphasised that updating the Electoral Act is an important component of preparing for credible and transparent electoral processes in the 2027 general elections.