….Says no electoral act amendment before 2027

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election, commending the impressive voter turnout across the state and the prompt deployment of electoral officials and materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Bamidele, who spoke with journalists shortly after casting his vote in his unit 003, Ward II, Iyin-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA, described the election as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey and said early indications suggested a marked improvement in the country’s electoral process.

While noting that it was still too early to make a final assessment of the exercise, the lawmaker said reports reaching him from across the 16 local government areas of the state pointed to a smooth and encouraging process.

“It is to the glory of God that we are witnessing this exercise again today. Though it may be too early to draw final conclusions, I can say that, so far, so good,” he said.

The Senate Leader disclosed that before leaving his residence, he contacted party members and stakeholders across the state to obtain updates on the exercise and was impressed by reports of large voter turnout and the timely arrival of electoral officials.

According to him, INEC demonstrated considerable improvement in logistics management, with polling officials arriving promptly at voting centres alongside the necessary election materials.

“I am impressed by the level of voter turnout. I am equally impressed by the reports I received regarding the promptness of INEC officials in getting to the various polling units and ensuring that voters had access to the materials needed to exercise their civic responsibility,” he said.

Bamidele noted that the conduct of the election reflected the growing maturity of Nigeria’s electoral system, particularly under the provisions of the amended Electoral Act.

He observed that compliance with electoral regulations appeared higher among political parties, electoral officials and voters, adding that public awareness of electoral offences and their consequences had improved significantly.

“There is no doubting the fact that our electoral system is progressing. This is one of the first major elections being conducted under the amended Electoral Act, and I have seen a high level of compliance from all stakeholders,” he stated.

The Senate Leader also expressed optimism about the electoral fortunes of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying available reports indicated strong voter enthusiasm across the state.

He maintained that the party remained confident of meeting its target of securing at least 500,000 votes in the election.

“People are very excited about this election and they are coming out in large numbers. I remain confident that our party will achieve its target. This election has the potential to rewrite Ekiti’s political history in terms of voter participation,” he said.

According to him, the fact that more than one million registered voters had collected their PVCs raised expectations of a high turnout that could significantly shape the outcome of the poll.

He, however, cautioned against making premature judgments on possible shortcomings in the electoral process, stressing that a comprehensive assessment would only be possible after all elections and by-elections taking place across the country had been concluded.

The Senate Leader explained that reports from domestic and international election observers, alongside analyses of voting patterns and election outcomes, would help lawmakers determine whether further reforms were needed.

He said any identified gaps would form the basis of future legislative reviews of Nigeria’s electoral framework.

“The law is like a human being; it keeps growing. As human beings grow, they often need new clothing. That is essentially the purpose of amending laws—to ensure they remain relevant and effective,” he said.

Despite acknowledging the possibility of future reforms, Bamidele disclosed that the National Assembly had resolved not to introduce any further amendments to the Electoral Act before the 2027 general elections.

According to him, lawmakers deliberately chose to maintain the current legal framework to ensure stability and avoid altering electoral rules close to major elections.

“What we have resolved as a Parliament is that between now and the 2027 general elections, we are not contemplating any further amendment to the Electoral Act. We will allow the law to operate through all scheduled elections and thereafter review any lessons that emerge,” he said.

He warned that amending the electoral law before the conclusion of the 2027 elections would amount to “changing the rules in the middle of a game,” stressing that predictability and consistency remain critical to the credibility of the democratic process.