Akpabio Urges Patience as Senate Continues Work on Electoral Act Amendments

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has called on Nigerians to refrain from drawing early conclusions on the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act 2022, stressing that the process is still underway and far from final.

Speaking in Abuja at the weekend during the presentation of a book titled The Burden of Legislators in Nigeria, written by former senator Effiong Bob, Akpabio said public reactions to the proposed electoral reforms were premature.

He noted that much of the criticism directed at the Senate was based on deliberations that had not yet been concluded, explaining that no bill becomes final until the Senate adopts its Votes and Proceedings and both chambers of the National Assembly harmonise their positions.

According to him, lawmakers still have the opportunity to review, correct, or amend clauses before the final approval stage, making it unfair to judge the legislature on what he described as an incomplete process.

Akpabio said the Senate would not be distracted by media pressure or external influence, insisting that its responsibility was to make laws that reflect the broader interest of Nigerians rather than the preferences of select groups or organisations.

He clarified that retreats and consultations, while useful, do not replace debates and decisions taken on the floor of the Senate, which ultimately determine the final content of any bill.

On the contentious issue of electronic transmission of election results, the Senate President said there was no confusion about the legislature’s position. He explained that lawmakers only proposed removing the phrase real time to avoid legal and practical complications in areas with poor network coverage or power supply.

Akpabio said the intention was not to restrict technology but to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the flexibility to determine the most appropriate mode of transmitting results based on local conditions.

He warned that making real-time electronic transmission mandatory nationwide could disenfranchise voters in areas affected by insecurity, poor infrastructure, or network failures.

The Senate President also referenced past judicial decisions, including a 2023 Supreme Court ruling, which acknowledged Nigeria’s infrastructural limitations and affirmed that electronic platforms such as IREV serve as supplementary tools rather than substitutes for the legally recognised result forms.

He emphasised that the role of the National Assembly is limited to lawmaking, while the conduct of elections, including the deployment of technology, rests with INEC within the framework of existing laws.

Akpabio concluded by urging Nigerians to allow the legislative process to run its course, assuring that the door remains open for input and that any electoral reform must be practical, lawful, and fair to all parts of the country.