Nigeria’s Senate held a tense plenary Tuesday as lawmakers reopened debate on the Electoral Act amendment bill to avoid a clash between the 2027 general elections and major religious seasons like Ramadan and Lent. The chamber agreed to reconsider the legislation after consultations with Independent National Electoral Commission over its February 2027 election timetable.

Senate Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele explained that the earlier version of the bill required over 360 days’ notice before elections, leaving INEC with little flexibility. Presiding officer Godswill Akpabio approved a motion to rescind the previous passage so lawmakers could correct errors and introduce new amendments.

Debate grew heated when legislators discussed Section 60(3) on electronic transmission of results. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe demanded a formal vote, opposing a clause allowing manual result collation if network failures occur. After a division, 55 senators supported the proviso while 15 rejected it, ensuring the clause remained.

Committee Chairman Simon Lalong clarified that the election timetable had been projected years earlier and was not targeted at any religious group. With amendments adopted, the Senate passed the revised bill for third reading, saying the changes would promote fairness, participation, and smoother elections in 2027.