The Senate has ruled out any immediate review of the Electoral Act 2026 following the Supreme Court judgment that restored key provisions on political party membership registers and the nomination of candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Yemi Adaramodu, said the National Assembly had completed the electoral reform process and would not alter the law in the middle of preparations for the 2027 polls.
Adaramodu stated this in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, while responding to questions on whether lawmakers would revisit the Electoral Act after the Supreme Court ruling and concerns raised by political parties over some of its provisions.
“We have already done the electoral reform and passed that one. It is meant for the 2027 elections. It is only after it that we can consider it for a review if there is any necessity or calls for amendments and rejigging. That’s when it can come up,” he said.
He added: “How do you halt an Electoral Act that is already in use for a new one? We are not going to do that.”
The senator’s position comes days after the Supreme Court restored Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026, which the Court of Appeal had earlier voided.
The apex court’s decision followed a legal battle over the constitutionality of the disputed provisions.
The Court of Appeal had in July declared the sections unconstitutional, prompting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to appeal.
With the Supreme Court now restoring the provisions and the Senate insisting that the Electoral Act 2026 will govern the 2027 elections, any further amendment would, according to Adaramodu, have to wait until after the poll.