Nigerian Senate Establishes Ad Hoc Committee to Review Electoral Act Amendments

The Nigerian Senate has formed a high-powered ad hoc committee to review the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 after lawmakers expressed concerns during a closed-door session. Led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the committee, chaired by Senator Simon Lalong, will work closely with the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Legal Matters, chaired by Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, to reconcile differing views and address identified grey areas.

The committee was scheduled to begin deliberations on Wednesday but was postponed due to the absence of Senator Lalong. The Senate President directed the circulation of the report for study ahead of debates.

Additionally, Senator Pam Dachungyang formally defected from the Action Democratic Party (ADP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), citing irreconcilable differences and prolonged internal crises within the ADP. This defection further strengthens the APC's numbers in the Senate amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2023 general elections.