Politics
Nigerian Senate Passes Controversial Electoral Act Amendment Bill Amid Heated Debate
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026, following intense deliberations and a dramatic division vote on the contentious issue of electronic transmission of election results.
The bill, which seeks to repeal and re-enact the existing Electoral Act to address perceived gaps ahead of the 2027 general elections, was approved after a rowdy plenary session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
Key amendments include provisions allowing both electronic and manual transmission of results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IReV portal, with manual transmission permitted as a fallback in cases of network failure or technical issues.
The most heated contention centered on Clause 60(3), which includes a proviso retaining the option for manual transmission. Opposition senators, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, demanded a division vote under Senate rules. In the tally, 55 senators voted in favor of retaining the proviso, while 15 opposed it primarily from opposition benches.
The passage came after the Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, moved a motion to reverse an earlier consideration and recommit the bill to the Committee of the Whole for fresh review.
Debates also covered adjustments to election timelines, including a reduction in the mandatory notice period for elections to avoid overlapping with the 2027 Ramadan period, as well as other legal and procedural clarifications.
The House of Representatives has since aligned with the Senate’s position on key issues, including the dual transmission mechanism and the scrapping of indirect party primaries in some contexts, passing a harmonized version amid protests and walkouts in the lower chamber.
Critics, including opposition parties like the PDP, have described the retention of manual transmission options as a “treacherous betrayal” of Nigerians’ demand for fully electronic processes to enhance transparency and reduce electoral malpractices. Supporters argue the hybrid approach provides necessary flexibility in areas with poor network coverage.
The harmonized bill now awaits concurrence between both chambers (if not already fully aligned) before transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The amendments aim to strengthen preparations for the 2027 polls, though they have sparked widespread debate on the future of electoral integrity in Nigeria.
The development follows earlier versions passed by the House in December 2025 and the Senate’s initial considerations earlier this month.
Politics
Jonathan challenges suit seeking his disqualification from 2027 race
The senior lawyer said that it was unfortunate that such a suit is filed by a lawyer who should know more that this same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to Court of Appeal.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to restrain him from contesting 2027 presidential election.
Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, told Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja shortly after the matter was called for hearing.
Uche informed the court that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address had been filed on May 5 ,praying the court to dismiss the case.
He said that they got information about the case through the media and hence, the need to file their processes urgently going by the importance of the matter which boiled down on the eligibility of the forner president to contest in the next election.
The senior lawyer said that it was unfortunate that such a suit is filed by a lawyer who should know more that this same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to Court of Appeal.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention but he was just being served with Jonathan’s processes.
He said that he would need more time to respond
Politics
JUST IN: Federal High Court adjourns ADC leadership suit indefinitely
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned indefinitely a suit filed by an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, has triggered fresh leadership tensions within the ADC following the emergence of Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in the party’s leadership structure.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed an interlocutory appeal earlier filed by Mark against the proceedings.
He added that the apex court also set aside the Court of Appeal’s order staying proceedings in the substantive suit.
“The interlocutory appeal of the second defendant has travelled to the Supreme Court. My Lord, we are glad to inform this honourable court that on the 30th day of April 2026, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment on the interlocutory appeal dismissing the said appeal for lacking in merit,” he said.
Haruna, however, disclosed that the plaintiff had written a letter dated May 4, 2026, to the Chief Judge seeking reassignment of the case to another judge, urging the court to await an administrative decision on the request.
“At this juncture, we must humbly pray to your Lordship, to wait for the administrative decision of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,” he said.
The request was opposed by defence lawyers, who accused the plaintiff of attempting to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court
In a dramatic political shake-up, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has been removed as Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF).
The decision was taken at an extraordinary meeting of approximately 20 Progressive Governors held in Abuja on Thursday. The governors, who include those of Ogun, Bayelsa, Enugu States and 17 others, convened shortly after the submission of President Bola Tinubu’s presidential nomination form.
Sources at the meeting described the move as a strategic realignment within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) structure. Governor Uzodinma’s removal marks the end of his tenure as PGF Chairman, a position he had held for several years.
A new chairman is expected to be announced soon as the forum seeks to consolidate its position and strengthen coordination among progressive governors ahead of key national political developments.
This development comes at a critical time for the APC, with intra-party dynamics and preparations for future elections taking center stage.
More details are awaited as the Progressive Governors Forum is yet to issue an official statement on the outcome of the extraordinary meeting.
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