The Senate on Wednesday deferred consideration of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026, opting for a more detailed examination of the proposed amendments before reaching a final decision.

The decision followed deliberations on the report of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters during plenary, which took place in the absence of the committee’s chairman, Senator Simon Lalong.

Lawmakers agreed to step down debate on the report to allow senators additional time to study the bill, with consideration expected to resume on Thursday.

The upper chamber also resolved to reconvene in an executive session to enable closed-door discussions on sensitive aspects of the proposed electoral reforms, citing concerns over the far-reaching implications of the legislation.

Although the House of Representatives has already passed the bill, the Senate stressed the need for a more cautious and deliberate review process.

Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, underscored the importance of careful consideration, especially as preparations for future elections gather momentum.

“This is a very important bill, particularly at a time when elections are approaching. We must take our time to ensure justice is done to all, so that we do not end up at the tribunal,” Akpabio said.

According to the committee’s report, a clause-by-clause review of the bill suggests that its passage would strengthen electoral integrity, improve transparency, and enhance public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.

The committee recommended that the Senate consider and pass the Electoral Act (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025, as amended, noting that the proposed reforms are designed to broaden voter participation, curb electoral malpractice, and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Meanwhile, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah in Nigeria has called for the immediate removal of the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, alleging that his continued stay in office poses what it described as a serious threat to the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.

The council said Muslims across the country would neither recognise nor legitimise any election conducted under the leadership of an INEC chairman whose integrity it claimed was questionable.

The President of the Council, Sheikh Bashir Umar, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja during the council’s 2026 Annual Pre-Ramadan Lecture and General Assembly.

Speaking on the theme “Nigeria’s Future: Faith, Justice, and Leadership,” Umar said the demand was based on what he described as the INEC chairman’s troubling antecedents.

“We are compelled by conscience and by our responsibility to the nation to insist that Prof. Amupitan should step aside,” he said.
“The credibility of elections is the foundation of democracy. When that credibility is in doubt, the entire system is at risk.”

Umar alleged that a legal brief attributed to the INEC chairman, which referenced claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, had deepened mistrust and raised serious concerns about impartiality.

“An electoral umpire must not only be neutral but must also be seen to be neutral,” he said, questioning how Nigerians—particularly Muslims—could repose confidence in an INEC chairman associated with such claims.

He noted that while the Federal Government had repeatedly dismissed the allegations contained in the brief, the damage to public trust had already been done.

“The government itself has stated that there is no such genocide. However, the association of the head of our electoral body with that narrative is troubling. It creates suspicion and undermines confidence in the electoral process,” he said.

Umar maintained that the council’s position was not driven by religious sentiment but by concern for national unity and justice.

“This is not about Islam versus Christianity. It is about fairness, justice, and leadership. Nigeria’s future depends on institutions and leaders that unite rather than divide the people,” he said.

He warned that proceeding with elections under the current INEC leadership could heighten tensions and threaten national stability.

The council called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to act swiftly to address the issue.

“We desire peaceful and credible elections that all Nigerians can accept. However, if the leadership of INEC remains under this cloud, many Muslims will find it difficult to recognise or legitimise the outcome of such elections,” Umar said.

He added that Nigeria deserves an electoral commission that commands the confidence of all citizens.