Declaring the session open, Senator Lalong explained that both the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters have been engaging critical stakeholders to ensure that the proposed amendments strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and deepen democratic governance.
He noted that the public hearing serves as an opportunity to gather diverse views and contributions from Nigerians to enrich the final draft of the bill before it is presented for debate and passage by the National Assembly.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, stated that the amendment process has been subjected to extensive scrutiny by lawmakers, civil society organisations, INEC, political parties, and development partners. He urged participants to identify key areas of improvement to help produce an electoral law that truly reflects the aspirations of Nigerians.
Representing the Senate President, Chief Whip Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to enacting laws that strengthen democratic institutions and promote electoral integrity. He assured Nigerians that the legislature is determined to address grey areas in the 2022 Electoral Act to ensure more credible elections in the future.
Also speaking, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the Leader of the House, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, reiterated the House’s commitment to an electoral framework that guarantees free, fair, and transparent elections.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) led by Clement Nwankwo, and the Head of Development Cooperation, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Nigeria, Cynthia Rowe.
They all commended the Joint Committee for its proactive engagement and called for the timely passage of the Electoral Act 2025 to enable INEC prepare adequately ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Dr. Makut Simon Macham, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Senator Lalong, confirmed that the hearing reflects Lalong’s commitment to building strong democratic institutions through inclusive legislative processes.
