The sands of time are pouring fast. With Nigeria's 2027 General Elections less than two years away, the window for meaningful, impactful electoral reform is rapidly slamming shut. Our democracy, bruised but resilient after the 2023 polls, desperately needs the Legislative Agenda's promises to transition from aspirational bullet points to enacted, functional law. The Senate and House of Representatives (HoR) have laid out critical pledges now is the time for a legislative sprint, not a crawl.
The core of the National Assembly’s agenda addresses the three persistent weaknesses plaguing Nigeria’s elections: weak enforcement, a flawed legal framework, and compromised impartiality of the umpire.
1. The Sword of Justice: National Electoral Offences Commission Bill
This bill can be described as the teeth of Nigeria’s electoral framework because right now, our laws bark loudly but bite softly. Electoral observer groups like the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and others reported high levels of electoral violence, voter suppression, and vote buying in the 2023 elections. Yet, prosecution remains abysmal with fewer than 50 convictions nationwide in two decades.
So while electoral offences are rife, from vote-buying and ballot box snatching to impersonation, prosecutions have historically been dismal. This means INEC lacks the resources, training, and institutional focus for effective criminal investigation and prosecution.
Both the Senate and HoR have pledged to ensure the passage of the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill. This Commission would reduce INEC’s workload by taking up the mantle to investigate and prosecute electoral offences independently, strengthen deterrence against malpractice, and improve public trust in elections.
On the Legislative Agenda Meter (Senate), this promise is rated 'In the Works'. SB. 740: Electoral Offences Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2025 sponsored by Senator Salihu Mustapha has stalled since scaling first reading in March 2025.
On the Legislative Agenda Meter (HoR), it is a different story. This promise is rated 'Broken' because this was listed as a short-term commitment in the Legislative Agenda to be completed by 2023. Two years later, and the bill has not yet been passed. Infact, HB923 - Electoral Offences Commission and Tribunal (Establishment) Bill, 2023 has stalled since passing first reading in November 2023.
2. Fixing the Fault Lines: Amending the Electoral Act (2022)
The 2022 Act introduced landmark technology like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and, in principle, electronic transmission of results. However, You do not need a PhD in political science to know that 2023 revealed serious gaps in the Electoral Act. These gaps relate to transmission and collation of results, over reliance on manual processes, ambiguity on INEC’s technological obligations, and a lack of strict timelines for resolving election disputes.
So the Senate’s promise to Amend the Electoral Act (2022) to Fix Identified Gaps from the 2023 Elections and the HoR’s drive to Strengthen the Electoral Act to ensure that all cases are resolved and judgments made before the date of swearing-in are two sides of the same coin.
The Legislative Agenda Meter (Senate) rates the Senate's promise to fix gaps from the 2023 elections as 'In the Works'. SB701 - Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 , sponsored by Senator Mustapha Salihu, is yet to be presented for second reading since scaling first reading in February 2o25.
On the Legislative Agenda Meter (HoR), this promise to ensure all cases are resolved before swearing-in is rated 'Broken' because it is listed as a medium-term commitment (2024-2025) in the Legislative Agenda and this bill is yet to be passed. HB1154 sponsored by Hon. Mansur Manu Soro is at the Committee Stage, referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review after scaling second reading in March 2025.
3. The Kingpin Factor: Reviewing INEC Appointments
Both chambers are aligned on the need to Review the method/Process of Appointment to positions in INEC, including Chairman, National Commissioners and RECs to Minimise the Involvement of the President.
This is the ultimate check on the impartiality of the umpire. In a country where appointments are analysed like football transfers, with people asking “Is he from my region” or “Is she their person,” this reform is vital. Many global democracies use bipartisan committees to appoint electoral leaders. Nigeria cannot continue the practice of allowing the player to choose the referee.
The Legislative Agenda Meter (Senate) rates this promise as 'Not Yet Rated' as there is no evidence that the 10th Senate has taken any action on this issue.
The Legislative Agenda Meter (HoR) rates this promise as 'In the Works' because HB 1589, sponsored by Hon. Omoruyi Murphy Osaro, and is in the committee stage referred to the House Committee on Electoral Matters, proposes that the process of appointing the INEC Chairman should be undertaken by the National Judicial Council (NJC). But this bill fails to address the mode of appointing other important officers of INEC.
Beyond the Ballot: Legislative Seats for Women
The House also promised to “Legislate to increase women’s representation through special women only seats in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and encourage State Assemblies to do the same.”
Some argue that this is not directly electoral reform, but in truth, it is a critical democratic reform. Nigeria ranks among the lowest countries globally in women’s political representation, with less than 5% of seats held by women in both chambers of the National Assembly, even though women are almost 50% of Nigeria's population.
Although there has been motion on this promise (in the form of HB 1349 sponsored by Hon. Benjamin Kalu, which is in the committee stage, referred to the House Committee on Constitutional Review) this promise is rated 'Broken' on the Legislative Agenda Meter (HoR) because it is a medium-term commitment (2024-2025) in the Legislative Agenda.
HB 1349 proposes the establishment of special constituencies from which only women can be elected. One senatorial district per state and FCT, two federal constituencies per state and the FCT.
The Urgency of Now
The call to action is simple but critical: pass these bills now. Nigeria is standing at a crossroads. Will 2027 be another cycle of confusion and contested legitimacy or the beginning of a new era of credible elections?
The Legislative Agenda Meter shows clear promises made by both chambers. What Nigerians need now is political will, not political excuses.
We are less than two years away from the next general elections. Effective implementation of such sweeping changes, especially new election timelines, a new Commission structure, and new electoral procedures, requires adequate time for Legal Promulgation, operationalisation, INEC adjustment, and public sensitisation
To wait until 2026 would be a recipe for chaos, making the 2027 election just as controversial and litigious as its predecessor. The National Assembly must honour its agenda, not just for the sake of a promise but for the survival of the nation's democratic soul. This is the moment for decisive action. The countdown is on, and failure is not an option.