Bamidele defends Electoral Act, says reforms driven by consensus

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, has defended the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act, insisting that the legislation emerged from broad stakeholder consensus rather than legislative imposition.

In his Easter message released on Sunday, Bamidele dismissed criticisms by opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which had alleged that certain sections of the Act were designed to undermine their chances in the 2027 general elections.

He maintained that all provisions of the law were the outcome of consultations involving civil society groups, development partners and other relevant stakeholders.

“The Act is not a product of legislative fiat, but of consensus reached by all stakeholders,” he said, urging political actors to abide by the rules collectively established to ensure stability and order in the electoral system.

Bamidele explained that key provisions of the Act align with global best practices, particularly the requirement for political parties to submit digital membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to him, the measure is aimed at enhancing transparency and preventing undue influence by individuals outside party structures.

He also justified the restriction of candidate nomination processes to either direct primaries or consensus, noting that the move was designed to curb the influence of money politics and strengthen internal democracy within parties.

“The final decision is now in the hands of party members… This reinforces the principle of majority rule,” he added.

Beyond electoral reforms, the Senate Leader condemned recent attacks in Plateau and Kaduna States, describing them as unacceptable and assuring that legislative measures were underway to address insecurity.

He said the National Assembly was working in collaboration with federal and state governments to tackle the root causes of violence, including ongoing amendments to the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act to impose stricter penalties on perpetrators and their sponsors.

Reflecting on the Easter season, Bamidele called on political leaders to embrace the values of sacrifice, tolerance and unity, noting that the resurrection of Christ symbolises victory over death and a call to responsible leadership.

He expressed optimism that ongoing reforms in both the electoral and security sectors would strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and promote lasting peace.