2027: Senate rules out fresh review of Electoral Act

The Senate has ruled out reopening the Electoral Act 2026 before the 2027 general elections, despite fresh questions surrounding party membership registers and candidate nominations following a Supreme Court judgment.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, stated that the National Assembly had concluded work on the electoral law and would not alter the framework while political parties were preparing for the polls.

In an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, Adaramodu explained that any review of the electoral law would only be considered after the 2027 general elections.

His statement follows a Supreme Court ruling that overturned a July decision of the Court of Appeal, which had declared Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7), and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 unconstitutional.

The apex court, in a unanimous judgment by a seven-member panel, restored the provisions regulating political parties’ membership registers and candidate nomination procedures.

The ruling also set aside the Court of Appeal’s nullification of aspects of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable for the 2027 elections.

The Court of Appeal had voided the provisions following a suit by the Zenith Labour Party, which argued that the requirements interfered unconstitutionally with internal party administration.

However, the Supreme Court set aside that judgment, affirming the statutory authority of the Electoral Act in regulating membership registers and candidate nomination methods.

Explaining the Senate’s stance, Adaramodu said the legislative process had been completed and assented to into law.

“We have already done the electoral reform and passed that one; it is meant for the 2027 elections.

“It is only after the elections that we can consider a review if there is any necessity or calls for amendments and rejigging.

“Anybody who has any petition against it should submit it to the Senate, but for us at the Senate and National Assembly, we have passed the electoral bill into law,” he said.

Adaramodu warned that reopening the legislation at this stage would disrupt ongoing electoral preparations.

“Parties have used the law to produce candidates who are going to contest in January and February.

“So, are you now going to shift the goalpost in the middle of the game?

“How do you halt an electoral act that is already in use for a new one? We are not going to do that,” he said.

The Supreme Court judgment has renewed debate over the enforcement of the restored provisions, particularly regarding candidates whose membership records, waivers, or nomination processes could face legal scrutiny.

Sections 77(5), 77(6), and 77(7) govern political party membership registers, restricting participation in primaries, congresses, and conventions to members whose names appear on the register submitted to INEC.

Section 84(2) outlines direct primaries and consensus as permissible methods for political parties to nominate candidates.