Senate Suspends Debate on Electoral Act Repeal Bill, Seeks Further Consultation

By Iyojo Ameh

Debate on the bill seeking to repeal the Electoral Act 2022 and enact the Electoral Bill 2025 was on Thursday indefinitely suspended during plenary, as lawmakers requested more time for consultations on the matter.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, questioned the rationale behind passing the general principles of the bill without first understanding its full details.

The Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Senator Simon Lalong, had earlier conducted a public hearing on the bill on Monday before presenting it for Second Reading.

This development prompted Senator Akpabio to query Lalong on why the bill was presented for debate without its relevant clauses.

Senator Akpabio emphasized the importance of Senators understanding the specific provisions being amended, citing past irregularities in the implementation of the Electoral Act.