Precious Nwonu, Enugu

The Senate has ruled out any fresh amendment of the Electoral Act 2026 before the 2027 general elections, saying changes to the legislation at this stage could disrupt preparations for the polls

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, disclosed this in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, explaining that the National Assembly would only consider reviewing the law after the elections if the need arose.

His position follows a Supreme Court judgment that restored provisions of the Electoral Act governing political party membership registers and methods of selecting candidates for elections.

The apex court overturned an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal, which had declared Sections 77(5), 77(6), 77(7) and 84(2) of the Electoral Act 2026 unconstitutional.

The Court of Appeal had delivered its ruling following a suit by the Zenith Labour Party, which challenged the requirements as an interference with the internal administration of political parties.

However, the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel, reinstated the provisions and set aside the appellate court’s decision nullifying parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable for the 2027 elections.

Reacting to calls for a possible review of the legislation, Adaramodu said the National Assembly had completed the lawmaking process and the Act had received presidential assent.

He maintained that the law was intended to guide the 2027 elections and should not be altered while political parties were already preparing their candidates for the polls.

According to him, reopening the legislation could create uncertainty for parties that had relied on its provisions in their electoral preparations.

Adaramodu said individuals or groups seeking changes could submit petitions to the Senate, but stressed that the National Assembly had no immediate plans to amend the law.

The Supreme Court judgment has renewed attention on compliance with the restored provisions, particularly the requirements governing party membership records and candidate nominations.

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

Section 84(2) provides for direct primaries and consensus as methods through which political parties can nominate candidates for elections.

The provisions are expected to remain part of the legal framework guiding political parties as preparations continue for the 2027 general elections.