The Senate has assured Nigerians that the ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act will significantly strengthen the country’s electoral process, dismissing concerns arising from prolonged closed-door deliberations on the bill.
The Red Chamber insisted that it would not disappoint the public, despite heightened speculation following a closed session that lasted over four hours on Tuesday, during which senators deliberated on contentious provisions of the amendment bill.
Speaking after the session, a ranking senator who requested anonymity explained that the length of the meeting was not unusual, stressing that critical national issues often require extensive consultations.
According to the lawmaker, the Senate is set to openly adopt the votes and proceedings on the bill, assuring Nigerians that the process would be transparent and in line with democratic norms.
“Tomorrow, we are going to openly adopt the vote and proceedings. It is going to be open. It is as good as passed,” he said.
He, however, clarified that the decision would only become official after formal voting and adoption of plenary proceedings, noting that senators would still be given the opportunity to make contributions before final approval.
On the substance of the reforms, the senator explained that the proposed amendments are designed to restore the primacy of voters in determining electoral outcomes, rather than the courts.
“It is no longer about courts declaring candidates as winners. It is now the responsibility of the voters to make someone win,” he said.
He added that the bill contains strict sanctions against the submission of false or fake documents by candidates, warning that any candidate found culpable would lose the slot, while the affected political party would forfeit the right to present a replacement.
“They already had ample opportunity to ensure that credible candidates emerged,” he added.
The lawmaker further disclosed that issues relating to the transmission of election results were also thoroughly addressed during deliberations.
According to him, the Senate’s position reflects inputs from key stakeholders and resolutions reached during public hearings on the bill.
“What we have done arose from all the stakeholders and the public hearings that we held. The Senate has not deviated from that,” he said.
When contacted, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Adeyemi Adaramodu, declined to provide details of the deliberations but reiterated the Senate’s commitment to delivering meaningful reforms.
“The Senate will not disappoint Nigerians. Whatever Nigerians want, we will not disappoint them,” Adaramodu said.
The Senate is expected to conclude consideration of the Electoral Act amendment bill and formally adopt its decisions at plenary following the presentation of the closed session report.
