.Suspends consideration of Electoral Bill to make room for wider consultation
The Senate, on Thursday, at a committee of the Whole screen confirmed the appointment of Professor Joash Amupitan as National Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Prof Amupitan entered the Senate Chamber at 12:50 p.m. after a motion by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), to suspend Order 12 and allow the nominee into the chamber and was grilled for about three hours, having fielded questions from the majority of senators at the plenary on Thursday.
Having been given the floor to answer questions from lawmakers, INEC Chairman-Elect gave these assurances:
“Mr. President, distinguished senators, the concern raised by Senator Sita is indeed a major one — and it reflects the worry of many Nigerians.
One of the first things we must do at the Commission is to establish a credible internal mechanism to monitor the conduct and behavior of officials.
“I am taking this position on trust, and those who will work with me must also recognize that they are holding the trust of the Nigerian people.
To maintain integrity, I intend to set up an Ethics and Compliance Committee within INEC to audit reported cases of misconduct.
“There have been numerous reports of electoral malpractice in the past, some of which were never properly addressed.
In some instances — such as in Bayelsa and Adamawa States — a few offenders were prosecuted and even convicted. We intend to follow through on such cases to ensure accountability.”
Continuning, he said, “I believe there is a need for legislative support, and we will collaborate with the National Assembly to strengthen the legal framework.
For instance, there is an urgent need for an Electoral Offences Commission that can effectively investigate and prosecute electoral crimes.
The current system lacks sufficient capacity for that.
“We plan to develop a system that can detect, investigate, and prosecute misconduct — supported by forensic methods when necessary — and strengthen INEC’s internal disciplinary process to ensure that all those involved in wrongdoing are brought to justice.
“We may also introduce a whistleblower policy within INEC to encourage people to report malpractices without fear of victimization.”
On the issue of security and logistics, Prof said ” I recognize that these are major challenges due to the size and diversity of our country.
We will work closely with the Joint Committee on Election Security to enhance protection of materials, personnel, and voters — especially in high-risk areas.
“We will also invest more in logistics and technology to ensure that every part of Nigeria is adequately reached.
If necessary, we can deploy innovations — such as drones and other secure means — to guarantee that election materials reach their destinations.
No voter will be left behind. That will be our guiding principle.
“In terms of voter and civic education, INEC will carry out its mandate under Section 2 of the Act more aggressively. We will embark on extensive civic and voter education campaigns to enlighten Nigerians about their rights and responsibilities.
This will include capacity-building not only for INEC staff but also for all election stakeholders — political parties, their members, civil society groups, and the electorate at large.”
On the issue of court decisions and technological systems, INEC Chairman-Elect noted, “there has been confusion over certain innovations introduced by INEC, such as the electronic collation system.
“The Supreme Court has clarified some of these matters. When we assume office, we will assess the infrastructure on ground, review the technology, and adopt the best approach that enhances transparency and credibility in elections.
“Regarding timelines and inconsistencies in the Electoral Act, I acknowledge that some provisions contradict each other.
We will work to harmonize these timelines to remove ambiguity.
A clear and consistent electoral timetable will help to build public confidence and reduce post-election disputes.
“Our ultimate goal is to make elections so credible that even the loser will be able to congratulate the winner in good faith — just as a judge delivers judgment and both sides accept it as fair and just.”
On financial prudence, as raised by Distinguished Senator Yeri, he said,” I assure this chamber that the laws already enacted by the National Assembly — particularly the Public Procurement Act and the Finance Act — will be strictly adhered to.
INEC funds will be used only for the purposes for which they are appropriated, and we will seek ways to cut costs where possible without compromising efficiency.
“In summary, our approach will be guided by integrity, accountability, security, efficiency, and education — to ensure that elections in Nigeria truly reflect the will of the people.”
.Senate suspends consideration of Electoral Bill
Also, Senate on Thursday suspended consideration of the Electoral Bill, 2025, which seeks to regulate the conduct of federal, state, and Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT elections, and for related matters.
This was meant to give the Red Chamber a room for more consultations among the senators before the next legislative day.
Both chambers of the National Assembly, the Senate, and the House of Representatives had on Monday, through their joint Committees on Electoral Matters, held a public hearing on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, 2025.
Among the notable proposals is the conduct of the 2027 Presidential and Governorship elections in November 2026, rather than February or March of every election year.
Presenting the general principles of the bill, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong (Plateau South), explained that the proposed legislation, which was first read on October 8, 2025, goes beyond minor amendments, describing it as a comprehensive reform aimed at providing Nigeria with a more credible, transparent, and inclusive electoral framework.
According to him, the 2023 general elections revealed both strengths and weaknesses in the current system.
“The 2023 elections tested our democracy in profound ways. While the 2022 Act introduced landmark innovations, it also exposed critical gaps — delays in election funding, disputes over voter registers, conflicting interpretations of result transmission, and weak enforcement of electoral offences,” Lalong said.
He added that Nigerians expect not “patchwork corrections,” but a holistic law that restores faith in the electoral process.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the session, said Lalong did not give details in the general principles of the bill and suggested an executive session to consider the bill.
But the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), said the day was too auspicious for the Senate to go into executive session and suggested that the bill be stepped down or another legislative day.
Consequently, Akpabio put it to a voice vote, which senators approved its stepping down.
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