The Senate plunged into procedural chaos on Thursday when Senate President Godswill Akpabio overruled his deputy and ordered the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2025 to be stepped down, citing the shocking absence of the bill’s text for circulation.
The bill, aimed at reforming federal, state, and FCT elections, was listed for second reading but hit a roadblock when lawmakers discovered the proposed amendments had not been circulated.
The drama escalated after it emerged that the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters had already conducted a public hearing on the bill — a move critics say defied parliamentary norms.
“It’s like holding a town hall on a law that doesn’t yet exist,” one senator muttered off record, as the chamber briefly erupted into side discussions.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin initially downplayed the oversight, suggesting senators could debate the “general principles” of a document they had never seen.
“The nitty-gritty of the bill is not necessary at this stage,” he said. “We are only to discuss its general principle before the second reading.”
But tensions rose, prompting Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele to move a motion to defer the bill, citing the need for further consultation and procedural clarity.
“The time today is not auspicious to proceed,” Bamidele said. “We need further consultation before the text is before us. It is not mature for debate.”
The motion was seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro, who agreed that the matter required deeper engagement.
When Akpabio took the helm, he did not hesitate to overrule the deputy, stressing that the Senate could not deliberate on a “phantom bill.”
“This Senate will not discuss what it cannot see,” Akpabio declared to applause.
“You cannot debate a document that is not before you. We must be guided by procedure, not assumption.”
The bill was unanimously stepped down, with Akpabio citing the Senate’s packed agenda and the need for wider consultation to align reforms with Nigerians’ expectations.
Outside the chamber, murmurs continued over the committee’s premature public hearing, with several lawmakers calling it “procedurally incorrect”.
“It’s like putting the cart before the horse,” one lawmaker quipped.
“The Senate hasn’t even considered the bill; how then do you gather public opinion? That’s not how lawmaking works.”
A legislative aide hinted that the leadership may query the committee’s secretariat to prevent future lapses.
“Committees act on bills that have passed second reading,” the aide said. “Anything before that is out of order.”
Akpabio concluded by stressing the need to preserve legislative integrity:
“The Nigerian people expect transparency, diligence, and order in how we make laws.”
The Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2025 is designed to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system, addressing loopholes exposed during the 2023 elections. If passed, it will: Guarantee early release of election funds to INEC, Clarify electronic transmission of results and integrate a uniform digital register with QR-coded voter IDs, Enhance internal democracy in political parties, tightening primaries and candidate substitutions and Impose harsher penalties for vote-buying and electoral fraud.
Others are to review campaign finance limits to curb money politics, Protect INEC’s independence from executive interference and Simplify voter registration and dispute resolution timelines.
Lead sponsor Senator Simon Bako Lalong described the bill as a “holistic reform package,” aimed at restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s elections.
“If we get it right, we will restore public trust, reduce post-election disputes, and strengthen INEC to function without interference,” Lalong said.