The National Assembly aims to conclude the amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 by December 2025 to ensure its implementation ahead of the 2027 general elections, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele has disclosed.
Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, made this known in a statement on Tuesday following President Bola Tinubu’s request to the Senate to confirm Prof Joash Amupitan (SAN) as the next Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
According to the Senate Leader, the timeline is designed to avoid the delays experienced in the last electoral reform process, which saw the final amendments signed too close to the 2023 polls.
"The only reason the previous administration did not sign the last aspect of the Electoral Bill in 2022 was because it was transmitted to the Presidency late. We are determined not to repeat that scenario. Between now and December 2025, we will ensure the amendment is concluded, well ahead of the 2027 elections, he said.
Amupitan’s nomination, he stated, was unanimously endorsed by the Council of State after the exit of former INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, before being forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.
Bamidele, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, said he trusts the success of the ongoing constitutional review process.
According to him, strong collaboration with key stakeholders, including the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, would be crucial.
"I do not envisage resistance because major public institutions are working with the National Assembly. We will consider global best practices, particularly in domesticating international treaties and agreements," he said.
Addressing criticism from opposition parties, Bamidele described dissent as a natural element of democratic governance.
"No matter how well a government is performing, the opposition will never agree because they are also positioning to reclaim power.
"Their expectation is to see the ruling party in disarray, but our focus remains on rebuilding Nigeria, stabilising the polity and growing the economy," he said.
The Senate Leader added that the 10th National Assembly, as it enters its third legislative year, will prioritise key national reforms, including Electoral Act amendments and constitutional review, as part of its broader legislative agenda.
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