Passage of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, remained inconclusive on Tuesday after the Senate failed to reach a decision following more than four hours of deliberations behind closed doors.

The upper chamber had begun consideration of the consolidated report of a seven-member ad hoc committee constituted last week to collate, harmonise, and distil lawmakers’ contributions on the proposed legislation. Senators later dissolved into an executive session to scrutinise the documents in detail.

However, upon reconvening, Senate President Godswill Akpabio declined to disclose the outcome of the deliberations and subsequently adjourned plenary to the next legislative day without further explanation.

The committee was mandated to present a harmonised report after the Senate had earlier spent over two hours examining the bill’s provisions during a previous closed-door sitting. Lawmakers agreed that additional time was required to allow a thorough review of the proposed amendments.

The panel is chaired by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters, Senator Niyi Adegbomore.

Other members are Senators Adamu Aliero, Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Danjuma Goje, Tony Nwoye, and Titus Zam.

Deliberations also included documents submitted by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong. The executive session was convened to enable senators to carefully examine the proposed amendments and supporting materials before resuming debate.

The latest delay follows an earlier deferral of the bill to give lawmakers more time to prepare for detailed legislative scrutiny.