Electoral Reform Bill Row Deepens as Senators Say Version Passed Was Not Senate-Approved Draft

ByEditor

Feb 5, 2026 #Abaribe Tambuwal Akpoti, #Electoral Reform Bill Nigeria, #electronic transmission of results, #INEC reforms, #Nigerian Senate controversy, #opposition lawmakers Nigeria, #Senate dispute electoral bill

Pat Stevens/

A fresh controversy has erupted in the National Assembly after several Nigerian senators said the version of the Electoral Reform Bill announced as passed by the Senate leadership was not the draft approved by the chamber.

At a press conference in Abuja, opposition lawmakers including Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan insisted that the bill passed under the supervision of the Senate President did not reflect the resolutions reached during plenary deliberations.

They maintained that the approved version of the bill retained provisions for electronic transmission of election results, which they said were altered or omitted in the version presented as passed.

The senators said the discrepancy raises serious questions about legislative procedure and transparency, particularly on an issue as sensitive as electoral reform.

According to them, electronic transmission of results was a core element of the amendments debated on the floor and enjoyed broad support among lawmakers before the final announcement by the Senate leadership.

Addressing journalists, the lawmakers stressed that the integrity of the legislative process must be protected, warning that any deviation between what senators debated and voted on and what was eventually recorded could undermine public confidence in both the Senate and the wider electoral reform effort.

The dispute follows the Senate’s passage of amendments to Nigeria’s Electoral Act, a process closely watched by political parties, civil society organisations and the electorate ahead of future general elections.

Electronic transmission of results has been one of the most contentious aspects of the reform, particularly after controversies surrounding result uploads during the 2023 elections.

While the Senate leadership has maintained that the bill passed preserves the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy technology as it deems fit, critics argue that failing to make electronic transmission mandatory weakens transparency and accountability in the electoral process.

The opposition senators called on the Senate to revisit the matter and ensure that the final version of the bill accurately reflects the decisions taken during plenary.

They also urged the National Assembly to uphold openness and procedural correctness in handling legislation of national importance.

The Electoral Reform Bill is expected to undergo harmonisation with the House of Representatives’ version before being transmitted to the President for assent, amid growing scrutiny over its final content and the process that produced it.