Electoral Act review before the 2027 elections is off the table, as the Senate says lawmakers will consider further changes after the polls. The decision follows a Supreme Court judgment that restored disputed provisions on party membership registers and candidate nominations.
Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said the National Assembly had completed the legislative process. He explained that lawmakers would consider further amendments after the elections if concerns justified another review.
Adaramodu gave the position during an interview with Saturday PUNCH. He argued that reopening the legislation now could disrupt political parties that have already relied on its provisions to prepare for the polls.
Senate Rejects Immediate Electoral Act Review
Adaramodu maintained that the current law should guide political parties throughout the electoral process. He warned that changing the rules midway through preparations could create uncertainty for parties and electoral authorities.
The senator also encouraged individuals and organisations with objections to submit petitions to the National Assembly. However, he stressed that such complaints would not automatically lead to an immediate amendment.
According to Adaramodu, political parties have already used the legislation to organise their activities and select candidates for the forthcoming elections. A fresh review, he suggested, could complicate those arrangements and raise questions about procedures already completed.
The Senate has therefore indicated that it will retain the current framework for the 2027 general elections. Lawmakers may revisit the legislation after the polls if they identify specific provisions that require changes.
The decision comes as political parties continue preparing for the next election cycle. Their compliance with the existing law is likely to remain important as nomination activities and other electoral processes progress.
Supreme Court Judgment Restores Disputed Provisions
The Senate’s position follows a Supreme Court judgment that overturned an earlier Court of Appeal decision on key sections of the Electoral Act 2026.
The dispute involved Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2). The Court of Appeal had declared the provisions unconstitutional in a case brought by the Zenith Labour Party.
The party challenged the requirements, arguing that they interfered with the internal administration of political parties. The legal dispute subsequently reached the Supreme Court through an appeal by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
On September 24, 2026, the Supreme Court overturned the appellate court’s decision and restored the disputed provisions. The ruling renewed attention on party membership records and the procedures parties must follow when selecting candidates.
Sections 77(5) to 77(7) concern political party membership registers. They set requirements affecting participation in primaries, congresses and conventions, including the use of membership records submitted to INEC.
Section 84(2), meanwhile, addresses methods for nominating candidates. These include direct primaries and consensus, subject to the requirements of the law.
The judgment has raised questions about how parties will apply the restored provisions, particularly where membership records or nomination procedures face legal challenges. However, the ruling does not automatically establish that every candidate faces a problem; specific disputes depend on the facts and applicable law.
What the Decision Means for 2027
The Senate’s refusal to reopen the law means political parties must continue their preparations within the current legal framework unless a relevant legal development changes its application.
INEC and political parties will also need to pay attention to the restored provisions as electoral activities progress. Proper membership records and compliance with nomination requirements may become important in resolving future disputes.
Although the Senate has ruled out a fresh review before the elections, it has not completely closed the door to future amendments. Adaramodu said lawmakers could consider changes after the polls if there were sufficient reasons to do so.
For now, the National Assembly intends to keep the Electoral Act 2026 in place for the 2027 general elections. Any further legislative review will have to wait until after the polls, according to the Senate’s stated position.
