By Henry Umoru, Abuja

The Senate has begun moves to amend the Electoral Act that will provide opportunities for Nigerians on essential duties to perform their franchise rights of voting early at elections.

A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act No. 13, 2022, to provide for early voting at elections, including criteria for eligibility, procedure at the elections and for other related matters, 2025 (SB. 412) was sponsored by Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’adua, APC, Katsina Central.

The bill scaled second reading in the Senate.

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, APC, Kano North, who presided over plenary, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action and report back in four weeks.

In his lead debate on the general principles of the bill, Senator Yar’adua, who noted that the bill sought to enfranchise a significant group of Nigerians, said, “Who, due to the nature of their duties on election days, are denied the opportunity to exercise their most fundamental democratic right: the right to vote.”

The senator who disclosed that the bill was read for the first time on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, said that in any democratic process, equal opportunity must be given to all citizens to participate in elections regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, occupation or socioeconomic status.

He said, “This ensures the true reflection of the will of the people, thereby enhancing the stability of the democratic process.

“Unfortunately, a huge number of Nigerians who are involved in making Nigeria’s elections a success are excluded from the crucial decision-making of choosing their leaders through the ballot.”

The senator who noted that over one million citizens who play critical roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of the elections are disenfranchised said, “These include INEC officials, including ad hoc staff, the security personnel, journalists, observers and others who work on election day to uphold the integrity of the process are effectively denied their right to vote.




https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/03/electoral-act-senate-moves-to-enable-early-voting-for-essential-workers/