A former Director of Voter Education and Publicity at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, has accused the Nigerian Senate of deliberately delaying the passage of the Electoral Act.
He made the accusation on Tuesday while appearing as a guest on an Arise Television programme.
According to Osaze-Uzzi, the delay would force Nigeria to rely on the Electoral Act 2022, which contains significant flaws.
With the 2027 election approaching, Osaze-Uzzi expressed belief that the anomalies in the current Electoral Act should be corrected well before the polls.
He stated that “evidence shows the Senate is deliberately delaying the passage of the Electoral Act” and that “circumstantial evidence suggests that it is a deliberate ploy”.
The delay has raised concerns among stakeholders, including civil society organizations and the media, who have expressed worry about the impact on the electoral process.
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has also expressed deep concern over the failure of the National Assembly to conclude the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill in 2025.
They warned that continued delay could lead to uncertainty in the electoral legal framework, delayed voter education, operational challenges for INEC, and increased risk of electoral disputes.
The Senate is expected to prioritise the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill upon resumption on January 27, 2026.
If the bill is not passed, it may lead to a constitutional crisis and undermine the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
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