Senate Chief Whip and representative of Abia North Senatorial District, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has thrown his weight behind the newly introduced Electoral Bill, 2025, describing it as a significant step towards enhancing the credibility and integrity of Nigeria’s democratic system.
During Wednesday’s plenary session, the Senate passed the Bill for an Act to Repeal the Electoral Act No. 13, 2022 and Enact the Electoral Bill, 2025 (SB. 903), aimed at regulating the conduct of Federal, State, and Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory.
Senator Kalu, a prominent voice in the debate, emphasized the importance of electoral credibility as the bedrock of good governance. He expressed strong support for the bill, which introduces sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s electoral process.
“A credible electoral system remains the foundation of democracy and governance,” Kalu stated during the plenary.
“The proposed reforms will deepen public confidence in Nigeria’s elections and ensure that the will of the people truly prevails.”
Among the key provisions of the new bill are: Greater independence for INEC, including early release of funds and tenure protection for Resident Electoral Commissioners; mandatory continuous voter registration to improve voter inclusiveness.
Others are: Digitization of electoral processes, including digital registers of results, QR-coded voter ID cards, and improved electronic transmission of results; tighter timelines and regulations for political party primaries and candidate nominations.
Stronger penalties for electoral offences, such as vote-buying and result falsification; Increased transparency in campaign financing and election management.
Senator Kalu reaffirmed his commitment to building a more transparent, inclusive, and efficient electoral system, saying the bill represents a critical opportunity to advance Nigeria’s democratic development.
The bill will now move to the House of Representatives for concurrence before being transmitted to the President for assent.
Rubby Obinna
October 22, 2025.
