The Leader of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has asserted that all the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act were products of stakeholders’ consensus and not legislative fiat, as claimed by some opposition leaders.
Senator Bamidele, who also served on the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, said the enactment of the law aligns with global best practices and was not designed to serve any narrow political interest.
In an Easter message released on Sunday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, the Senate Leader urged political actors to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, tolerance, and unity exemplified by the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ.
He dismissed allegations by opposition parties that certain provisions of the Act were introduced to undermine their chances in the 2027 general elections.
The opposition had alleged that the National Assembly inserted Section 77 (1–7) of the Electoral Act, 2026, to frustrate their electoral prospects.
They also criticised Section 84 (1–3), which prescribes either direct primaries or consensus as the modes for the nomination of candidates by political parties.
However, Senator Bamidele maintained that all provisions of the Act were the outcome of extensive consultations with stakeholders, including civil society organisations and development partners.
According to him, “each provision of the Electoral Act is informed purely by stakeholders’ consensus and not by legislative fiat.”
“Now is the time we must play by the rule and not against it,” he said.
The senate leader challenged all political leaders and parties “to consciously learn to live by the rules we collectively enacted to ensure peace, order and stability in our political system.”
Senator Bamidele observed that the National Assembly has been criticised for introducing a provision that requires each political party to submit a digital register of its members to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) within a stipulated time under Section 77(1-3) of the Electoral Act.
“The provision was not introduced for any self-serving purpose. Rather, it is consistent with the global best practices and aims specifically at building a culture of collegial decision-making that governs party politics worldwide.
Senator Bamidele also explained the rationale behind limiting the procedure for the nomination of candidates by political parties for the various elective positions to direct primaries or consensus under Section 84(1-3) of the Electoral Act.
He said the provision “is intentional and not self-serving. It aims at ending a delegate system that compromises the interest of the majority and strengthens the arms of the moneybags to hijack the primaries. With the new system, we hope all party members can participate in the nomination of candidates for all elective positions transparently,” Bamidele said.
He condemned the recent armed attacks in Plateau and Kaduna States that claimed scores of lives, noting that the parliament “had been working in synergy with federal and state government to put an end to such premeditated armed attacks on vulnerable people”.
“The National Assembly is working to ensure stability in the polity and security even in the remotest parts of our Nation. The review promises to institutionalise stiffer measures against kidnappers, their financiers and informants. Unlike before, the consequence will now be maximum” he said.