Dare Babalola
The Senate has approved the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal & Enactment) Bill, 2026, marking a significant step towards electoral reform in the country.
The bill was approved after deliberation and adoption of all 155 clauses.
Several clauses underwent amendments, whereas the majority were approved without modifications.
One of the amendments was the reduction of the timeline for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the notice of election from 360 days to 180 days.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Senator Tahir Monguno who moved that the earlier 360 days required for INEC to publish the notice of election be reduced to 180 days.
Monguno clarified that the decision to reduce the timeframe was driven by the need for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to meet critical deadlines for publishing notices related to the upcoming general election.
According to Monguno, adhering to the original 360-day timeline would have posed significant challenges, given the time already elapsed, making the reduction a necessary adjustment to ensure INEC’s preparedness for the polls.
