The Senate on Tuesday passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026.

Before the passage, there was a rowdy session as the upper chamber resumed proceedings with a demand for division over Clause 60 raised by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South).

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stated that he believed the demand had previously been withdrawn, but several opposition senators immediately objected to that claim.

Citing Order 52(6), the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, argued that it would be out of order to revisit any provision on which the Senate President had already ruled.

This submission sparked another uproar in the chamber, during which Senator Sunday Karimi had a brief face-off with Abaribe.

The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, then reminded lawmakers that he had sponsored the motion for rescission, underscoring that decisions previously taken by the Senate are no longer valid.

He maintained that, consistent with his motion, Senator Abaribe’s demand was in line.

Akpabio further suggested that the call for division was merely an attempt by Senator Abaribe to publicly demonstrate his stance to Nigerians.

The Senate President sustained the point of order, after which Abaribe rose in protest and was urged to formally move his motion.

Rising under Order 72(1), Abaribe called for a division on Clause 60(3), specifically concerning the provision that if electronic transmission of results fails, Form EC8A should not serve as the sole basis, calling for the removal of the proviso that allows for manual transmission of results in the event of network failure.

During the division, Akpabio directed senators who supported the caveat to stand.

He then asked those opposed to the caveat to rise.

Fifteen opposition senators stood in opposition.

However, when the votes were counted, the Senate President announced that 15 senators were not in support of the proviso, while 55 senators voted in support of it.

Clause-By-Clause Consideration

Earlier, proceedings in the Senate were momentarily stalled as lawmakers began clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following a motion to rescind the earlier amendment.

The motion to rescind the bill was formally seconded on Tuesday, paving the way for the upper chamber to dissolve into the committee of the whole for detailed reconsideration and reenactment of the proposed legislation.

During the session, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, reeled out the clauses one after the other for deliberation.

However, the process stalled when at clause 60, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South), raised a point of order, drawing immediate attention on the floor.

Following the intervention, murmurs spread across the chamber as lawmakers began speaking in small groups and approaching the Senate President’s desk for consultations.

The session immediately moved into a closed-door session.

There are strong indications that the Independent National Electoral Commission and the National Assembly have agreed to move the 2027 presidential election to January 16, 2027, in a dramatic reversal of the earlier date of February 20.

According to Punch Newspaper, the governorship elections are also set to be brought forward to January 30, 2027, multiple sources within the electoral body and the legislature confirmed on Monday.

The development comes a few hours after the Senate and House of Representatives suspended the planned harmonisation of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to focus on an emergency plenary session convened for Tuesday, where the new dates are expected to top deliberations.

“After several consultations and meetings, INEC and the leadership of the National Assembly have now agreed on a new date for next year’s election,” a senior INEC official who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, told The PUNCH.

“The new dates will now be January 16 and 30 for presidential and governorship elections, respectively,” the source added.

A ranking senator also corroborated the development, though he cautioned that the proposal was still subject to debate on the floor.

“Whoever hinted to you about the new dates is correct. That is the proposal currently on the table. However, that doesn’t mean it can’t change tomorrow,” he said.

The shift marks a significant turning point in the evolving electoral calendar for 2027 and underscores the mounting political, religious and logistical pressures surrounding Nigeria’s next general elections.

INEC had initially fixed Saturday, February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, with governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls scheduled for March 6, 2027.

However, the February 20 date drew sharp criticism from Muslim groups and political stakeholders who argued that it coincided with the holy month of Ramadan, projected to run from February 7 to March 8, 2027.

For many observers, the controversy quickly transformed from a scheduling matter into a broader debate about inclusivity, religious sensitivity and voter participation in a multi-faith nation.

Over the weekend, there were indications that lawmakers were considering February 13 as a compromise date to address concerns raised by Muslim faithful who frowned at the idea of voting during fasting.

But fresh information obtained by The PUNCH indicated that consultations between INEC and the National Assembly leadership had yielded a more drastic option: moving the polls to January.

If adopted, the January 16 date would make the 2027 presidential election one of the earliest in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic calendar, effectively compressing campaign timelines and administrative preparations.

The National Assembly announced on Sunday that it would reconvene its plenary session on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, cutting short its recess amid indications that lawmakers may review the date set for the 2027 presidential election.

Findings by our correspondent showed that the National Assembly may shift the presidential poll to February 13, 2027.

In a notice signed by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, senators and members of the House of Representatives were directed to resume sitting at 11 am and adjust their schedules accordingly, as “very crucial decisions” are expected to be taken during the session.

“I am directed to inform all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the National Assembly that the Senate and House of Representatives shall reconvene plenary session at 11:00 am on Tuesday, 17th February 2026, respectively,” the notice read.

“Consequently, all Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members are kindly requested to take note and reschedule their engagements accordingly to enable them attend the session, as very crucial decisions shall be taken by each Chamber during the session,” Ogunlana added.

However, sources within the National Assembly, speaking to newsmen on condition of anonymity, revealed that the public notice masks a more pressing agenda.

“It is more of an extraordinary plenary session to review the 2027 presidential election date as stipulated in the Electoral Act amendment.

That is why our recess has been cut short through the announcement made by the Clerk of the National Assembly,” a senator confided.

“The ultimate aim is to give legislative backing to INEC’s request to address the concerns raised regarding the 2027 election slated to hold during Ramadan,” the lawmaker added.

Another Senate insider told The PUNCH: “If all goes according to plan, the presidential poll date may be brought forward to February 13 from the previously announced February 20 by INEC.”

Similarly, a Senator said: “This session is crucial. It is about more than dates—it is about ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of faith, has a fair opportunity to participate in the electoral process. The decisions we take here could define the credibility of the 2027 elections.”

The development comes barely a week after the Senate, bowing to public pressure, approved the electronic transmission of election results to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Result Viewing Portal, while retaining manual collation as a backup in areas where technology may fail.

The emergency reconsideration arose from a disputed clause in the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026, which had triggered days of nationwide protests and intense criticism from opposition figures, civil society groups, and youth movements.

Despite approving the electronic transmission system, the Senate stopped short of making it compulsory and rejected calls for real-time uploads of results—a key demand of protesters who had accused lawmakers of undermining electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Under the revised provision, presiding officers at polling units must electronically transmit results to the IReV portal after voting concludes and documentation is completed. Where electronic transmission is not possible due to network challenges, the manual result sheet, Form EC8A, will serve as the primary basis for collation and declaration.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, while putting the motion to a voice vote, urged senators who opposed the amendment to formally challenge it on the floor.

With plenary set to resume, lawmakers are expected to continue deliberations on pending bills, committee reports, and other legislative matters, including further work on the Electoral Act amendment and related reforms ahead of the 2027 polls.

Meanwhile, the Joint National Assembly Conference Committee, constituted to reconcile differences in the Electoral Amendment Bill passed separately by the Senate and the House of Representatives, is expected to meet on Monday. The harmonised bill will subsequently be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

It was learned that the joint panel, comprising members from both chambers, has been given a one-week window to resolve contentious provisions in the bill.

Earlier, it was reported that INEC acknowledged public concerns over the timing of the 2027 general elections, which coincides with the holy month of Ramadan, a period of fasting and spiritual reflection for millions of Nigerian Muslims.

The commission indicated that it may seek legislative intervention if necessary.