The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, on Tuesday assured Nigerians that the ongoing amendment to the Electoral Act, 2022, would be completed on or before December 2025 and used for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, gave the assurance in a statement shortly after the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, read President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s letter requesting the confirmation of Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

President Tinubu nominated Amupitan, a Professor of Law, following the unanimous approval of his appointment by the Council of State last Wednesday after the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu as INEC Chairman.

Explaining the delay in the previous amendment, Bamidele said the Muhammadu Buhari administration could not sign the last aspect of the Electoral Bill in 2022 because it was transmitted too close to the general elections.

He said:

“Before then, we had made our first proposal and it was signed into law. But when certain observations were made — especially regarding the disenfranchisement of statutory delegates — the National Assembly moved to correct it.

However, the late President Muhammadu Buhari declined to sign the correction, saying it was coming too close to the elections and he did not want to be misunderstood by the public. That was why it wasn’t signed.”

Bamidele added that the current National Assembly would not repeat the same mistake, assuring that the amendment process would be concluded well ahead of the 2027 polls.

“Between now and December 2025, we will ensure that the amendment of the Electoral Act, 2022 is concluded so that it will not be too close to the elections,” he stated.

On the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Senate Leader, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate Constitution Review Committee, dismissed fears that the presidency might resist the process.

According to him, the review enjoys strong collaboration between the legislature and relevant executive agencies.

“I do not envisage any resistance because public institutions are working with the National Assembly for the successful review of the 1999 Constitution. Global best practices will be taken into consideration,” Bamidele said.

Addressing criticisms from the opposition, the Senate Leader noted that it was natural for rival parties to downplay government achievements.

“No matter how well a government is performing, the opposition will never agree because they are plotting to reclaim the presidency. They would prefer to see the ruling party fighting itself, but the APC is a focused party,” he stated.

Speaking on the agenda of the 10th Senate in its third legislative year, Bamidele said the National Assembly had several key issues to address, including the Electoral Act amendment and the constitution review.

“We are now at the stage of engagements, which will be largely behind closed doors. We will engage the presidential team early instead of waiting until all the bills are ready. Any of the bills that are ready will be sent to the president for assent,” he added.