Senate Promises Electoral, Constitutional Reforms Ahead of 2027 Elections

Opeyemi Bamidele

As the second half of the 10th National Assembly begins, the Nigerian Senate has pledged sweeping reforms, especially in the country’s electoral process, constitution, and judiciary.

Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, made the commitment in a statement on Sunday, marking the midterm of the current National Assembly. He assured Nigerians that the legislature is focused on strengthening democratic institutions and enhancing transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Bamidele said that key reforms will focus on improving Nigeria’s electoral laws to ensure that “every vote counts” and to make the electoral process more credible and attractive for law-abiding citizens. “Once people believe their votes count, it will encourage greater participation and deepen democracy,” he added.

He also revealed that several judicial reform bills are already in progress, targeting how judges are appointed, their tenure, and their welfare—measures aimed at making the justice system more transparent and efficient.

The 10th National Assembly was inaugurated on June 13, 2023, with Senator Godswill Akpabio and Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas elected as Senate President and Speaker of the House, respectively. Senator Barau I. Jubrin and Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu also emerged as Deputy Senate President and Deputy Speaker.

Looking back at its achievements, Bamidele highlighted the Assembly’s increased legislative output. The Senate initiated 506 bills in the 2024/2025 legislative year, up from 477 the previous year—a 6.07% increase. It also passed 83 bills into law compared to 25 in the 2023/2024 session, marking a 232% jump.

The number of executive bills doubled from 13 to 26, while private member bills also rose from 464 to 480. He pointed to the passage of the Tax Reform Bills as a major success, calling it a step toward resolving the country’s fiscal challenges.

Bamidele said the reforms would address inefficiencies in tax administration, simplify compliance for both citizens and businesses, and restore investor confidence to spur growth across sectors.

Punch

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