Senate Confirms No Changes to Electoral Act Before 2027 Elections

The Senate has decided not to reopen the Electoral Act 2026 before the 2027 general elections, as stated by Senator Yemi Adaramodu, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs. He indicated that the National Assembly has completed its work on the electoral law and will not make changes while political parties are preparing for the elections.

This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that overturned a previous Court of Appeal decision, restoring Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which regulate political party membership registers and candidate nomination procedures. Adaramodu emphasized that any review of the electoral law would only be considered after the elections.

He warned that reopening the legislation now would disrupt ongoing electoral preparations, as parties have already used the law to select candidates for the upcoming elections. The Supreme Court's ruling has reignited discussions on the enforcement of the restored provisions regarding candidate nominations.