National Assembly Not Delaying Electoral Act Amendment – Kalu Clarifies

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has dismissed claims suggesting that the National Assembly is deliberately slowing down the amendment process of the Electoral Act 2022.

Kalu made this clarification on Friday at his country home in Bende, located in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, while addressing questions from journalists during a media interaction.

His comments came shortly after former Vice President and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, raised concerns over the pace of legislative action on the Electoral Act amendment.

In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Thursday, Atiku accused the National Assembly of intentionally delaying the amendment process. According to him, such delays could be interpreted as a calculated attempt to weaken the credibility and integrity of the 2027 general elections.

Reacting to the allegation, Kalu firmly rejected the claim, insisting that the accusation does not reflect the true position of the House of Representatives.

He emphasized that the National Assembly, particularly the House of Representatives, is not intentionally stalling the amendment of the Electoral Act. Kalu noted that it was incorrect to suggest that lawmakers were deliberately slowing down the process.

According to the Deputy Speaker, the House of Representatives has already carried out extensive legislative work aimed at addressing identified gaps within the existing Electoral Act. He explained that the lower chamber has taken significant steps to ensure that necessary adjustments are made in preparation for future elections.

Kalu further assured Nigerians that the House is currently awaiting the Senate to take corresponding action so that both chambers can complete the process through concurrent legislative approval, as required by law.

Expressing optimism, he stated that he expects the Senate to conclude its part of the amendment process in due course, allowing the National Assembly to move forward collectively.

The Deputy Speaker’s remarks were intended to reassure the Nigerian electorate that legislative efforts surrounding electoral reforms are ongoing and that there is no deliberate attempt to undermine democratic processes ahead of the 2027 polls