The Senate has ruled out any amendment to the Electoral Act 2026 before the 2027 general elections, insisting that the law already in force will guide the conduct of the polls.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said the National Assembly had concluded the latest electoral reform process and would not change the rules while preparations for the 2027 elections were already underway.
Adaramodu made the position known in an interview while responding to questions about whether lawmakers would reconsider some provisions of the Electoral Act following a recent Supreme Court judgment and concerns raised by political parties.
According to him, the Electoral Act has already been passed by the National Assembly, assented to and put into use for the 2027 electoral process.
He explained that any petition or demand for changes could be submitted to the Senate, but stressed that amendments would only be considered after the 2027 elections if the need arises.
The Senate spokesman argued that changing the law at this stage would amount to altering the rules in the middle of an electoral process, noting that political parties were already relying on the legislation in selecting candidates for the forthcoming elections.
The position followed a September 24, 2026, Supreme Court judgment which restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026.
The provisions had earlier been declared unconstitutional by the Court of Appeal before the Independent National Electoral Commission appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.
A seven-member panel of the apex court unanimously overturned the Court of Appeal judgment, holding that the disputed provisions were not inconsistent with the Constitution.
Sections 77(5) to 77(7) deal with political party membership registers and eligibility to participate in party primaries, while Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries or consensus as methods of selecting candidates.
The Supreme Court judgment has, however, raised questions about the possible impact of the restored provisions on some candidates, particularly issues relating to party membership, waivers and nomination processes.
Several political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, Allied People’s Movement and Labour Party, have maintained that their candidates remain eligible despite concerns generated by the judgment.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress also rejected suggestions 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, said the judgment should not be subjected to individual interpretations and maintained that anyone challenging the eligibility of a candidate should seek legal redress through the courts.
With the Supreme Court having restored the disputed provisions and the Senate insisting that the current Electoral Act will govern the 2027 elections, lawmakers are not expected to embark on another review of the legislation before the polls.
Any fresh amendment, according to the Senate, would have to wait until after the 2027 elections.
