Breaking News: Senate Passes Electoral Amendment Bill

Senate Resumes Process on Electoral Bill

The Electoral Act Amendment Bill has been passed for third reading, after it was stepped down for more legislative work at the last plenary session by the Senate.

The passage followed the adoption of the report by the joint Senate and House of Representatives committee on the bill, which was presented the Chairman, Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission, Senator Suleiman Nazif.

President Muhammadu Buhari had withdrawn assent to the bill three times, raising various constitutional and drafting issues.

The committee had addressed the issues raised by the President in a harmonised, fourth version of the bill.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Act 2010 (Amendment) Bill, 2018 (SB. 699) is read the THIRD time and PASSED. #TodayInSenatePlenary

— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) October 23, 2018

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who commended the lawmakers for their commitment to duty on the bill, expressed hope that the President would assent to the bill when transmitted by the National Assembly.

The House of Representatives has also scheduled third reading of the bill for today.