Procedural breach stalls debate on electoral reform bill in senate

A routine legislative session turned chaotic last week when the Nigerian Senate abruptly halted debate on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 after lawmakers discovered that copies of the bill were not circulated among members.

The bill, sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, was billed for second reading and described as a “holistic reform package” to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system.

However, proceedings quickly derailed after several senators protested that they had not received the bill’s text.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, who presided in the absence of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, initially urged lawmakers to proceed with the debate, arguing that only the “general principles” were up for discussion.

“But discontent spread across the chamber as senators insisted it was improper to deliberate on a document they hadn’t seen.

When Akpabio returned, he swiftly restored order, declaring: “This Senate will not discuss what it has not seen. We must be guided by procedure, not assumption.”

His statement drew applause from senators, effectively halting the debate.

Following his intervention, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele moved a motion to step down the bill, seconded by Minority Leader Abba Moro.

Akpabio upheld the motion, citing the need for “further consultation and proper circulation” of the document.

Legislative observers later revealed that the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters had already conducted a public hearing on the bill — an action many lawmakers viewed as a breach of parliamentary procedure, since public hearings typically occur only after a bill’s second reading.

Analysts described the development as a major procedural lapse, raising concerns about coordination within the legislature.

Dr. Samuel Olasope, a political analyst, said, “It’s alarming that a major reform bill could reach the stage of public hearing without members having copies.

“That shows deep institutional weaknesses.”

Despite the setback, the bill remains one of the most ambitious attempts at electoral reform since the 2022 Electoral Act.

It seeks to improve election funding, enhance INEC’s independence, tighten rules on party primaries and candidate substitution, and strengthen measures against vote-buying and result falsification.

It also proposes the creation of a digital voter register and clearer provisions on electronic result transmission.

Senator Lalong, while defending the bill, said it was designed to close loopholes exposed during the 2023 elections and restore public trust in the system.

“If we get it right, we will reduce disputes and strengthen INEC’s independence,” he noted.

Akpabio, reflecting on his personal experience from the 2019 elections, stressed that reforms must make INEC accountable at all levels.

“INEC must take responsibility. We cannot keep punishing field officers for directives that come from the top,” he said.

He also warned against prolonged campaign seasons that distract public officials from governance.

“Ministers and public officers abandon their duties for nearly a year to campaign. Governance suffers when politics consumes everything,” he added.

While Akpabio’s move to halt the debate was viewed as procedural discipline, insiders say it also demonstrated his firm control over the Senate.

“It was as much about asserting authority as it was about protecting process,” one senator remarked.

The Senate is expected to revisit the bill once copies are circulated to members and leadership consultations are concluded.

Civil society groups and election observers have urged the National Assembly to prioritise transparency and
urgency in completing the reform process.

Though the debate was delayed, analysts believe Akpabio’s decision underscored an important democratic lesson — that credible lawmaking is as vital to democracy as credible elections themselves.