society
Senate’s Electoral Reform Bill Risks Opening Door to Voting Errors, NBA’s Ubani Warns
Senate’s Electoral Reform Bill Risks Opening Door to Voting Errors, NBA’s Ubani Warns
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by SaharaWeeklyNG
“As harmonization talks continue in Abuja, legal experts and civil society leaders warn that ambiguities in the Senate’s draft amendment could undermine electronic result transmission and weaken public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.”
Abuja, Nigeria – The ongoing controversy over the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal & Enactment) Amendment Bill, 2026 has erupted into one of the most consequential political flashpoints in Nigeria’s democratic journey ahead of the 2027 general elections. At the centre of the storm is the Senate’s version of the bill, which critics (including Monday Ubani, SAN, Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Electoral Reform Committee) say leaves open critical loopholes that could invite systematic electoral errors and manipulation.
On Saturday, Ubani raised pointed concerns during a televised interview on Arise Television, arguing that the Senate’s draft, as passed on second reading, “leaves room for electoral error”. He explained that electronic result transmission and result transfer processes in the bill still rely on manual collation at collation centres, leaving the possibility for discrepancies between what voters see at the polling unit and what is declared later.
“The people have witnessed a situation where a different result will be declared at the collation centre, different from what happened at the polling unit,” Ubani said. “The Senate proposed bill leaves room for electoral error and there are concerns about communication failures that can be illegally taken advantage of.”
The uproar stems from the Senate’s decision not to include language that mandates real‑time electronic transmission of election results from polling units with a reform widely championed by civil society, legal experts, opposition parties and advocacy groups. Instead, the Senate retained a provision that allows the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) discretion in determining the mode of results transfer, similar to what existed under the Electoral Act 2022.
For decades, Nigeria’s elections have been plagued by allegations of manipulation and result tampering, particularly during the transportation and collation of results away from polling units. In the 2023 general elections, electronic tools like the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) were deployed to upload results online, allowing citizens to view them in real time. However, the Supreme Court later ruled that such electronic transmission lacked a statutory basis, since the Electoral Act did not expressly mandate its use.
This legal lacuna has invigorated reform advocates to push for legislative clarity. As one election law expert told TheCable in an in‑depth legal analysis, “the absence of ‘real‑time’ language, the undefined communication failure exception, and the designation of manual results as primary when technology allegedly fails transform what should be a strong transparency mechanism into a discretionary system vulnerable to abuse.”
Yet, rather than enshrining real‑time electronic transmission as a legal requirement, the Senate retained the existing discretionary framework, prompting outrage. Civil society organisation #FixPolitics Africa argued that this amounts to a “brazen betrayal of electoral reform and the rule of law,” stating that ambiguities in the bill erode public trust and risk hollowing out Nigeria’s democracy.
Prominent voices have weighed into the debate. Former Minister of Education and activist Oby Ezekwesili warned that the Senate’s approach amounts to “playing with fire” ahead of elections that Nigerians hope will be more credible than past cycles. Critics argue that removing mandatory electronic transmission and retaining discretionary language hands back power to old practices that have facilitated manipulation.
On the political front, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) condemned the Senate’s decision as “most shameful and unfortunate,” stressing that the majority of Nigerians want electoral sanctity bolstered through electronic safeguards. The party’s statement argued that without clear legal requirements, result manipulation remains possible.
Yet Senate leaders have downplayed the criticism. Senate President Godswill Akpabio stressed that the process is not complete, noting that the Senate will reconvene to approve the Votes and Proceedings of its sessions before the final text is settled. He cautioned against premature judgments, characterising public outrage as misguided given that legislative harmonisation with the House of Representatives is still underway.
Senators like Ireti Kingibe have also sought to reassure the public. Kingibe, a member of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, said the core reforms (including electronic transmission) remain part of the discussions and will be clarified in a harmonised version of the bill.
As a harmonisation committee meets to reconcile the Senate and House versions, the stakes could scarcely be higher. If the differences are not resolved clearly and transparently, the final Electoral Act may lack the very reforms most Nigerians believe are necessary to restore confidence in the electoral process.
Legal scholar Dr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, writing in a recent analysis, captured the moment perfectly: “Nigerians invested in technology and raised expectations about transparency, but the legal framework must now match that investment and failing to enshrine real‑time transmission risks a repeat of the very irregularities reformers sought to eliminate.”
The 2027 elections loom large on the calendar. With trust in democratic institutions fragile and public impatience with political elite promises at an all‑time high, the final form of Nigeria’s electoral law may prove as decisive as any campaign rhetoric or political rally. The tension between tradition and technology, discretion and certainty, could well determine whether the next general elections are a triumph of democracy or another missed opportunity.
Kingdom Advancement: God Does Not Confirm Lies
or Gossip—He Confirms His Word –
“When Doing Business with God,
People’s Opinions Do Not Count.”
— Dr. Christian Okafor
The greatest investment any Christian can make is partnering with God. According to the Generational Prophet of God and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Christopher Okafor, when a believer commits to serving and advancing God’s kingdom, no barrier, lie, gossip, or blackmail can prevail against them.
This message was delivered during the Prophetic Financial Sunday Service held on February 15, 2026, at the international headquarters of Grace Nation Worldwide in Ojodu Berger, Lagos, Nigeria.
Doing Business with God
Teaching on the theme “Kingdom Advancement” with the subtitle “Doing Business with God,” Dr. Okafor emphasized that when a believer enters into covenant partnership with God, divine backing becomes inevitable.
“God is still in the business of covenant,” he declared. “When you make a covenant with Him, He honors the terms. When you win souls into the kingdom and remain committed to His work, He rewards you with what you could never achieve by your own strength.”
The Man of God stressed that God does not confirm lies, gossip, or negative narratives—He confirms His Word. Therefore, anyone genuinely committed to kingdom business should not be distracted by public opinion.
“No matter the blackmail or falsehood circulating around you, if you are focused on God’s assignment, those attacks will only strengthen you,” he stated.
He further noted that a believer’s understanding of God’s covenant determines their experience. “Your mentality about God’s covenant becomes your reality. When you truly know the God you serve, no devil can move you.”
Biblical Examples of Kingdom Partnership
Dr. Okafor cited several biblical figures who prospered through their partnership with God:
Abel
Abel served God with sincerity and offered his very best. His sacrifice pleased God, demonstrating that when a master is honored, he responds with favor.
David
David’s heart was fully devoted to God, and in return, God’s presence and favor rested upon him throughout his life.
Hannah
Hannah made a covenant with God, promising that if He blessed her with a child, she would dedicate him to His service. After fulfilling her vow, God rewarded her abundantly, blessing her with additional children.
Peter
Peter, a professional fisherman, surrendered his boat at Jesus’ request for kingdom work. Through that act of partnership and obedience, he experienced supernatural provision and divine elevation.
Conclusion
In closing, Dr. Okafor emphasized that one’s approach to God’s covenant determines the level of success and prosperity experienced. Commitment to kingdom advancement secures divine confirmation and supernatural results.
The Prophetic Financial Sunday Service was marked by prophetic declarations, deliverance, healings, miracles, restoration, and solutions to diverse cases presented before Elohim.
Security is a Collective Spiritual Duty, says Obasa
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa has described security as a collective spiritual duty while drawing a parallel between the pursuit of national and state security and the broader spiritual journey toward Jannah (Paradise).
In his keynote address at the 31st Pre-Ramadan Lecture of the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni held inside the cavernous J.F Ade Ajayi Main Auditorium of the institution on Sunday, February 15, 2026, Speaker Obasa described security as not just physical safety but the alleviation of poverty, which he fingered as the major cause of insecurity; upholding transparency, fairness, compassion for the vulnerable, and improved healthcare for all and sundry among other humanitarian acts.
For every desire, Speaker Obasa said, “There must be an input. What we have to do to get to heaven is no different from what we have to do for the security of our society. Insecurity is a function of poverty. Security is not about the police alone; it is about all of us. It is a collective spiritual duty. Every time you see people gathered on your street, don’t just drive past; make enquiries as to who they are.”
He further portrayed security as an act of worship and nurturing faith through selfless deeds that protect communities, prevent oppression, and build unity, adding, “By integrating spiritual light with responsible leadership, believers contribute to a Nigeria where peace prevails, guiding souls collectively toward Paradise while securing the present world as a foundation for the eternal one.”
Describing Lagos as a vibrant melting pot of cultures and faiths, Speaker Obasa said that the government has been able to foster a safe and secure environment by ensuring sustained interfaith dialogues, support for religious institutions (mosques and churches), and legislative efforts to promote harmony without division.
Continuing, Obasa said, “As Muslims, our faith calls us to be custodians of justice, peace, and good governance, and we cannot separate our spiritual obligations from our civic responsibilities.
“In governance, we must uphold transparency, fairness, and service to humanity. In the community and in the family, we must be agents of compassion, supporting the weak, feeding the hungry, and uplifting the oppressed. If we uphold these admonitions, there will be peace, prosperity, and progress in our society, aligning with Quranic calls to stand firm in justice (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:8) and the Prophetic ideal of benefiting others.”
In his welcome address, Dr Abdulmumini Alao, National President, University of Lagos Muslim Alumni (UMA), said, “Our theme for this year’s lecture – The Light Beyond: Guiding Our Souls to Paradise – challenges us to reflect and aspire. In several verses of the Qur’an, Allah gives us a description of Jannah (Paradise) that will be the permanent abode of the righteous after our temporary stay on earth.”
He added that as is the practice of the UMA, there were two guest speakers; “One teaching us on a spiritual subject, while the other would speak on a contemporary national issue. Therefore, while Dr Ridwan Jamiu’s (Chief Imam, Lekki Central Mosque) topic deals with our spirituality, Prof. Is’haq Oloyede, Registrar of the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) as the lead speaker to address us on national security, which is an issue grabbing the headlines in Nigeria today.”
The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, represented by the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, was the chairman of the occasion.
The University of Lagos Muslim Alumni is a faith-based alumni body of the association, founded in 1995 by 44 members, with a vision to be a frontline group of conscious and dynamic Muslims with a positive and effective impact on their alma mater and society at large. Its mission is to promote brotherhood, scholarship, entrepreneurship, and the best Islamic practices.
More Troubles For Maureen Badejo As Man Accuses Her Of Cows Theft
Instead of thaw, more accusations have been heaped on embattled Maureen Badejo as a man accused her of stealing cattle worth seven million naira (N7m).
The man in the trending video said Maureen colluded with an unnamed divisional police officer to commit the crime.
According to him, the owner of the cow is one Babatunde Odus.
He, however , urged those who have fallen victims to Maureen Badejo to come forward with their claim(s).
He said; “I have just obtained video evidence showing Maureen Badejo in the act of stealing cattle valued at over 7 Million Naira. This is the reality of who she is. This woman is not just a thief; she is a serial blackmailer and a destroyer of lives.
“Maureen Badejo was able to commit this crime using a DPO of a police station She has moved from place to place, duping countless individuals and leaving a trail of destruction.
“Enough is enough. The world needs to know that Maureen Badejo is a fraudster.
“If you have been a victim of Maureen Badejo—whether she stole from you, blackmailed you, or scammed you in any way—please send me a direct message immediately. Let’s gather all the cases against her and ensure she is held accountable.”
Recall that Maureen Badejo has been remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Service because she was unable to meet her bail conditions in the defamation suit brought against her by Apostle Joshson Suleiman of Omega Fire Minsitries.
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