By Ade Oyeyemi
The Senate has ruled out any amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 before the 2027 general elections, insisting that the legislation will remain the legal framework for the upcoming polls.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH while reacting to calls for possible changes to some provisions of the new law.
Adaramodu said the National Assembly had concluded the latest electoral reform and that the legislation had already been assented to and put into effect.
He argued that altering the law while preparations for the 2027 elections were underway would amount to changing the rules after the process had begun.
“We have already done the electoral reform and passed that one. It is meant for the 2027 elections. It is only after it that we can consider it for a review if there is any necessity or calls for amendments and rejigging. That’s when it can come up,” he said.
The senator added that individuals or organisations with objections to the law could submit petitions to the Senate, but ruled out an immediate legislative review.
He said, “As you know, it is through the Electoral Act that parties produced the candidates who will contest in January and February. So, are you now going to shift the goalposts in the middle of the game? Are you going to play a football match in reverse? Do you tell them to walk backwards instead of running forward?
“How do you halt an Electoral Act that is already in use for a new one? We are not going to do that.”
The Senate’s position came shortly after the Supreme Court restored key provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 relating to political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates.
The seven-member panel of the apex court unanimously overturned an earlier Court of Appeal judgment that had nullified Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Act.
The Supreme Court held that the disputed provisions were not inconsistent with the Constitution.
Sections 77(5) to 77(7) deal with political party membership registers and participation in party primaries, while Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus in the nomination of candidates.
The ruling has, however, generated concerns over its possible implications for candidates whose party membership, waivers or nomination procedures could be challenged.
Several political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, Allied People’s Movement and Labour Party, have maintained that their candidates remain eligible following the September 24, 2026, judgment.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress also dismissed concerns that the ruling could affect the candidacies of its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and former Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Osa Director, had told The PUNCH that the judgment should not be subjected to individual interpretations, urging anyone with concerns about a candidate’s eligibility to seek legal redress.
The Supreme Court judgment followed an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission against the Court of Appeal ruling delivered in July, which had declared the disputed provisions unconstitutional.
With the apex court now restoring the provisions and the Senate insisting that the current Electoral Act will guide the 2027 elections, Adaramodu said any review of the legislation would have to wait until after the poll.
