The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has announced that the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act 2022 will be completed before December 2025, setting the stage for its use in the 2027 general elections.

Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday following the reading of President Bola Tinubu’s request for the Senate to confirm Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN) as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to a statement issued by the Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Office of the Senate Leader, on Wednesday, the nomination of Professor Amupitan, a Professor of Law, was unanimously approved by the Council of State last week, following the exit of Professor Mahmood Yakubu from the commission. President Tinubu subsequently transmitted the appointment to the Senate for confirmation.

Explaining the timeline for the amendment process, Bamidele noted that lessons had been learnt from the last administration’s experience, which saw the delay in signing the final amendment to the Electoral Act in 2022.

“The only reason the previous administration did not sign the last aspect of the Electoral Bill in 2022 was because it was transmitted to the Presidency late,” Bamidele said. “Before then, we had made our first proposal, and it was signed. But when corrections were made to address the disenfranchisement of statutory delegates, former President Muhammadu Buhari felt it was coming too close to the elections and did not want to be misunderstood by the public. That is why the bill was not signed then.”

He added that the current amendment process would avoid a repeat of that scenario. “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 2027 elections,” he said.

Turning to the ongoing constitutional review exercise, Bamidele, who also serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, expressed optimism that the process would succeed. He stated that the engagement of key institutions such as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures was critical to achieving meaningful reforms.

“I do not envisage that there will be any resistance because public institutions are working with the National Assembly for the successful review of the 1999 Constitution,” he said. “In this amendment, global best practices will also be taken into consideration, especially in the domestication of international treaties and agreements.”

Bamidele also addressed criticisms from the opposition, describing them as a normal feature of democracy. “No matter how well a government is performing, the opposition will never agree that the government is doing well because they too are plotting to reclaim the presidency,” he said. “Part of what they would love to see is the ruling party in disarray, but our focus remains on rebuilding Nigeria, stabilising the polity, and growing the economy. We will not be distracted from this goal.”

The Senate Leader added that the 10th National Assembly’s agenda for its third legislative year would prioritise key national issues, including the amendment of the Electoral Act and the review of the Constitution, among other legislative priorities.