No electoral act amendment before 2027 polls, says Senate leader Bamidele

By Dayo Johnson

ADO-EKITI — Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has ruled out any amendment to the Electoral Act before the 2027 general elections, saying the National Assembly will allow the current law to operate fully before considering further reforms.

Bamidele made the declaration on Saturday after casting his vote in Iyin-Ekiti during the Ekiti State governorship election.

The Senate Leader commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and voters for the smooth conduct of the election and the impressive turnout recorded across the state.

While acknowledging that Nigeria’s electoral system remains a work in progress, he maintained that no changes would be made to the Electoral Act ahead of the 2027 polls.

“There is no doubt that our electoral system is evolving and improving. This is one of the first major elections being conducted under the amended Electoral Act, and I have observed a high level of compliance not only by INEC but also by political parties and voters themselves,” he said.

“Today, people are more aware of what constitutes electoral offences and the consequences such violations carry for both political parties and individuals. That growing awareness is a positive development for our democracy.”

Bamidele also expressed satisfaction with reports received from across Ekiti State regarding voter participation and the conduct of the election.

“I made several calls across the state to obtain firsthand information on how the process was progressing in different local government areas. The reports I received regarding voter turnout have been encouraging,” he said.

“I am equally impressed by INEC’s performance, particularly the prompt deployment of officials to polling units and the timely arrival of voting materials. This represents a significant improvement on previous elections.”

The Senate Leader noted that Ekiti State has about 1.059 million registered voters, with more than one million having collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), a development he said could result in one of the highest voter participation rates in the state’s history.

He added that a comprehensive review of the electoral process would be undertaken after the election, taking into account reports from observers and the outcomes of by-elections being conducted across the country.

Explaining the National Assembly’s position on electoral reforms, Bamidele said lawmakers had deliberately decided against altering the legal framework ahead of the 2027 elections.

“The law is like a human being — it grows and evolves. As people grow, they often need to change their clothing to suit new realities. That is the purpose of amending existing laws,” he said.

“However, one thing we have resolved as a Parliament is that between now and the 2027 general elections, we do not intend to make any further amendments to the Electoral Act. We will allow the law to operate as it is.

“After the February 2027 general elections, we can then begin to consider any further reforms. Making amendments at this stage would be akin to changing the rules in the middle of a game, and that is something we must avoid.”

Bamidele expressed confidence that lessons from the ongoing elections would help shape future electoral reforms and further strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.

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