Senatepasses Electoral Act 2026 with 55-15 vote on Clause 60 proviso

The Nigerian Senate passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 on Tuesday, with 55 senators voting in support of a proviso allowing manual transmission of election results during network failures, against 15 opposing. The vote followed a rowdy session where Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a division on Clause 60(3), specifically challenging the provision that permits manual result transmission when electronic systems fail. Senate President Godswill Akpabio sustained the point of order, directing senators to stand for the division. The Senate also raised concerns about the 2027 election timetable conflicting with Ramadan and technical inconsistencies in the bill, including cross-referencing errors in clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143. The motion to rescind the bill was formally seconded, paving the way for fresh deliberations on the legislation.

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/02/17/senate-passes-electoral-act-amendment-bill/