The Senate has passed the 2026 Electoral Act Amendment Bill aimed at clarifying court jurisdiction in the handling of pre-election matters.
The bill was passed following the presentation of a report by the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), chaired by Simon Lalong, during plenary on Thursday.
The proposed amendment seeks to address gaps, timelines, and jurisdictional issues surrounding the resolution of pre-election disputes in Nigeria’s electoral process.
Leading the debate on the bill, Lalong said the amendment was designed to tackle persistent procedural and constitutional challenges within the country’s electoral legal framework.
According to him, the bill aims to eliminate uncertainty, multiplicity, and inconsistencies associated with determining which courts have the authority to hear pre-election cases.
He noted that credible elections depend not only on the voting process itself but also on transparent and predictable legal procedures leading up to elections, including party primaries and candidate selection processes.
The amendment specifically targets Section 29 of the Electoral Act and introduces a new Section 29A to clearly define jurisdictional competence in pre-election matters.
Lalong stated that despite provisions already contained in Section 285(14) of the 1999 Constitution, conflicting interpretations by courts have continued to create confusion, contradictory judgments, and delays in electoral litigation.
Supporting the bill, Mohammed Monguno said the amendment was necessary and would improve the handling of electoral disputes in the country.
Following the passage of the bill, president of the senate Godswill Akpabio commended the committee for its work and expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would assent to the legislation.
Akpabio said the amendment would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and improve governance by providing greater clarity in electoral dispute resolution.
