The Red Chamber said the decision was taken to allow for wider consultation and deeper scrutiny of the proposed legislation before further action.
The Bill seeks to repeal the Electoral Act 2022 and re-enact a new law designed to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system through greater transparency, inclusiveness, and technological innovation.
Some of the proposed changes include the introduction of digital registers of results, QR-coded voter identification cards, early release of election funds, and stricter timelines for party primaries and electronic transmission of results.
Leading the debate, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Simon Lalong, said the 2023 general election revealed both the strengths and weaknesses of the existing Electoral Act.
He noted that while the 2022 Act brought major improvements, it also exposed several loopholes such as delayed funding, disputes over the voter register, and inconsistent interpretation of result transmission.
“The key goal of this new bill is to build public trust by ensuring transparency, efficiency, and integrity in our electoral process,” Lalong stated.
He added that the new legislation aims to enhance INEC’s independence and prevent undue political interference in its operations.
However, during the debate, Senator Emmanuel Udende (Benue North East) raised a procedural concern, noting that copies of the Bill were yet to be circulated for members to properly study its contents. The Senate then resolved to suspend deliberations to allow more time for consultation and input.
