The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026 after a heated session over provisions on electronic transmission of election results.

The debate centered on Clause 60, with Enyinnaya Abaribe demanding a division on the clause allowing manual transmission if electronic systems fail. Senate President Godswill Akpabio initially said the demand had been withdrawn, a claim disputed by opposition lawmakers.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele intervened, noting that an earlier motion to rescind previous decisions made Abaribe’s request valid.

During voting, 55 senators supported retaining the proviso, while 15 opposed it, leading to its approval.

Earlier, the chamber dissolved into a Committee of the Whole for clause-by-clause reconsideration following concerns over technical errors and the 2027 election timetable announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Lawmakers warned that the schedule could conflict with legal timelines and coincide with Ramadan, potentially affecting voter turnout and logistics. They also identified inconsistencies in several clauses of the bill.

With the passage, the Senate said the revised law would strengthen Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of future polls.