Nigeria’s Democracy Crisis: Senate Blocks Electoral Reform

Isaac Fayose, brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, has asserted that Nigeria’s opposition is effectively powerless, citing the recent passage of a key electoral amendment bill without a mandatory provision for electronic transmission of results.

In a video posted on X, Fayose expressed deep pessimism about Nigeria’s political trajectory. He claimed the political landscape is predetermined, stating, “ADC is dead on arrival. Peter Obi can never be president. Nobody can be president again unless they select you.” He linked this to the Senate’s rejection of a specific amendment to the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026, which would have made the electronic transmission of election results compulsory. Fayose also criticized the broader dismantling of electoral and judicial frameworks, noting the abandonment of previous reform initiatives, including the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

“Electoral reform is gone. Even the initiatives that Jonathan started have been thrown into the dustbin,” he said, calling the situation a national tragedy. “We lost the country… Nigeria is gone.”

The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday following its third reading but did not approve Clause 60, Subsection 3, which sought to mandate real-time electronic transmission of results to a central portal. Senate President Godswill Akpabio later clarified that the chamber did not reject electronic transmission altogether but opted to keep the provision non-mandatory, leaving discretion to the electoral body.

This legislative decision has reignited debate over the integrity and modernization of Nigeria’s electoral process. The 2022 Electoral Act had previously introduced BVAS to enhance transparency, but the omission of a mandatory electronic results transmission clause in the 2026 amendment is seen by critics as a setback. Fayose’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment among some analysts and citizens who argue that structural weaknesses in the system undermine genuine political competition and public trust.

The episode underscores ongoing tensions between legislative action and demands for deeper electoral reforms. With the 2027 general election cycle approaching, the integrity of result collation and transmission remains a critical point of contention, highlighting the continued struggle for institutional safeguards in Nigeria’s democracy.