The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 seeks to repeal the 2022 Electoral Act and introduce reforms to improve transparency, accountability, and efficiency in elections.
Among its provisions are the early release of INEC funds, mandatory audited financial statements, use of the National Identification Number (NIN) for voter registration, recognition of inmates’ voting rights, electronic transmission of results, and mandatory early voting.
The bill also proposes holding presidential and governorship elections at least six months before the incumbent’s tenure ends to reduce post-election disputes.
Senator Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa West) criticised the current system for placing the burden of proving electoral irregularities on candidates, calling it "unfair and illogical."
Dickson urged wider use of technology in elections, reform of party primaries, and increased funding and autonomy for INEC.
"If our electoral system fails, democracy will exist only in name. INEC conducts elections, appoints ad hoc officials, collates and announces results. It must therefore show that its conduct was lawful.
"Political parties have become the greatest threat to democracy. We must regulate their conduct to entrench internal democracy," he said.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio endorsed the reforms, describing them as a corrective measure for an "imbalanced" system.
He stated that while previous reforms improved transparency, the electoral framework must continue evolving ahead of the 2027 elections.
"Political parties have become the greatest threat to democracy. We must regulate their conduct to entrench internal democracy.
"INEC should be held responsible because it conducts the elections, controls the materials, and manages the logistics. It should carry the burden of proving that its actions reflected the will of the people," he said.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), was referred to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for further public hearings, with a report expected within two weeks.
On the healthcare side, the Senate also approved an amendment to the National Health Act, 2014, raising the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) from 1 per cent to 2 per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.
Senator Ipalibo Harry, chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said the increase is essential to sustain critical health services, especially as donor support declines. The funds will support immunisation, maternal care, epidemic preparedness, and other frontline health services.
Speaking on constitutional reform in Lagos, Senior Advocate Olisa Agbakoba warned that Nigeria’s economic goals, including a $1 trillion economy, cannot be achieved without structural reforms and a new constitution.
Agbakoba called for devolution of powers to strengthen governance and criticised the current centralised system for slowing progress.
"History will judge this generation by one criterion: Did we have the courage to restructure Nigeria when we had the chance, or did we squander the opportunity and leave our children to inherit the whirlwind? The answer must be written in the ballot box of 2027 and inscribed in a new constitution by 2030," he said.
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