By Anita Dennis
The Senate has passed a bill seeking to amend the 2026 Electoral Act, introducing clearer jurisdictional guidelines for the resolution of pre-election disputes ahead of future general elections.
The bill was passed following the presentation of a report by Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Simon Lalong, during plenary.
Leading debate on the amendment, Lalong said the legislation was designed to address recurring procedural and constitutional disputes surrounding the courts empowered to determine pre-election matters in Nigeria.
According to him, the amendment seeks to eliminate uncertainty, multiplicity of suits and conflicting interpretations that have continued to complicate electoral adjudication.
Lalong stated that unclear legal frameworks often expose the electoral process to forum shopping, contradictory judgements and prolonged litigation capable of undermining electoral stability.
He explained that the bill proposes amendments to Section 29 of the Electoral Act while introducing a new Section 29A to define jurisdictional competence more clearly.
Under the proposed changes, aspirants would be permitted to institute pre-election actions either in the Federal Capital Territory or within the jurisdiction where the cause of action arose.
Lalong said the provision would improve access to justice and align electoral litigation more closely with the territorial realities of party primaries and candidate nomination processes.
He further disclosed that the new Section 29A establishes a clearer jurisdictional structure for pre-election disputes relating to National Assembly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
According to him, disputes relating to presidential and vice-presidential elections would originate at the Court of Appeal exercising original jurisdiction, with appeals proceeding directly to the Supreme Court.
Lalong argued that vesting original jurisdiction in the Court of Appeal would support faster determination of politically sensitive cases by a court with nationwide competence.
He also said the amendment seeks to curb the growing practice of litigants filing multiple suits in different courts in search of favourable judgements.
Senator Mohammed Monguno, representing Borno North, who seconded the motion, described the amendment as timely and necessary for improving electoral litigation management.
Following passage of the bill, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, commended the committee for its work and expressed confidence that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would assent to the legislation.
