Senate Don Set Up Committee To Tweak Electoral Act Before 2027 Election

My people, see wetin dey happen for Senate for Naija o! Dem don gather seven sharp senators to form committee wey go analyse and harmonise the electoral act wey dem wan change before the 2027 election wahala start.

Dis one follow after dem don spend three hours for closed-door meeting wey no enter anybody eye. Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, na him come drop the gist say dem go join forces to look into the inputs wey each senator don drop for the proposed amendments.

Dem don pick Niyi Adegbonmire as the chairman, and e go lead the team wey get other big names like Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye and Titus Zam. Akpabio talk say dem get only three days to finish dem work and report back to the Senate.

Last week, dem no fit discuss the report on the electoral act amendment bill, instead dem prefer to enter executive session make dem sabi am well-well. Dis decision come after dem see the far-reaching impact wey the bill fit get for Naija electoral process.

House of Representatives don already pass the bill, but Akpabio talk say Senate no go rush anytin; dem go take time to do am well make sure say justice dey for everybody before dem agree to am.

According to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, dem check the proposed amendments clause-by-clause and find say e go enhance electoral integrity, transparency and boost public confidence for the system. Dem recommend say make dem pass the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, wey dem don amend.

Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, come outline wetin dey important for the amendments. He talk say the bill dey bring serious sanctions for electoral crimes like vote-buying. E dey talk about fines wey fit reach N5m, two years for jail and ten years ban from contesting elections. E no stop for there o; dem dey propose stiffer penalties for result falsification and even for blocking election officials from doing their work.

Plus, dem dey bring electronic voter identification wey go include downloadable voter cards wey get QR codes. Dem wan make sure say results fit dey transmitted electronically straight from polling units.

Bamidele talk say dem go also recognize the voting rights of prisoners, and INEC go get the power to register eligible inmates. Dis one no be play at all! E dey standardize delegates for indirect party primaries and dey ensure election funds go dey released at least one year before polling day so that everybody fit prepare well.

As dem dey work on dis reforms, Bamidele remind us say all dis things dey aimed at making sure say Naija fit get credible and transparent elections starting from the 2027 elections, provided say at least two-thirds of state Houses of Assembly approve am as the constitution talk.

At the end of the day, wetin matter pass be say good governance, security and the welfare of our people na the main target wey we dey shoot for.