The National Assembly has rebuffed calls by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi, and other opposition leaders for an urgent amendment of the Electoral Act 2026, insisting that any changes must be pursued through constitutional procedures.
The Senate, responding to agitation from leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), said public pressure and media campaigns were not substitutes for legislative engagement.
Senate spokesman, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, dismissed the demand for a fresh amendment as ill-timed, noting that the Act had already been passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
“If there are concerns, they should present them to their representatives in the National Assembly. That is the proper channel,” Adaramodu said, adding that lawmakers would consider any formal proposal brought before them.
Similarly, Chairman of the Senate Committee on South-East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, emphasised that amending the Electoral Act is the exclusive preserve of the legislature.
“It is not for individuals or pressure groups to dictate. The National Assembly has the constitutional responsibility to make or amend laws,” Kalu stated, warning opposition figures against rhetoric capable of overheating the political environment.
He advised critics of the current administration to focus on preparing for the 2027 elections rather than questioning a law that has already completed the legislative process.
The Senate’s reaction comes amid opposition claims that certain provisions in the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those concerning party primaries and electronic transmission of results, could undermine transparency ahead of the next general elections.
Despite the criticisms, the upper chamber maintained that the law was enacted in accordance with due process and reiterated its readiness to consider any amendment proposal formally submitted through legislative channels.
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