Senate President Godswill Akpabio has revealed that the National Assembly is considering a review of the Electoral Act 2026 following complaints that provisions in the law contributed to the defeat of many incumbent lawmakers during party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Akpabio made the disclosure on Tuesday while speaking at the National Assembly Open Week organised by the House of Representatives in Abuja.
He admitted that lawmakers inadvertently enacted provisions that worked against their own political interests, leaving many senators and members of the House of Representatives unable to secure their parties’ tickets for re-election. 
According to him, although the law helped reduce violence during party primaries, it also created challenges for many serving legislators.
“From the Electoral Act that we passed, you can see that not many people were killed, if any, during the primaries in many states of the federation. But we shall tinker with the Act again to make sure that we are not the victims of our own actions,” Akpabio said.
He noted that many lawmakers were overwhelmed by the influence of political leaders within their constituencies during the nomination process.
“I understand that many members and many senators were overwhelmed by the leadership of their various political constituencies. At the end of the day, we seem to have made a law against ourselves,” he added.
The Senate President assured Nigerians that the National Assembly would revisit the legislation to ensure future lawmakers do not face similar difficulties in securing party nominations. According to him, experienced legislators contribute significantly to governance, stressing that continuity in the legislature strengthens lawmaking and national development.
The Electoral Act 2026 restricted political parties to either direct primaries or consensus arrangements for selecting candidates, replacing the system previously used in earlier election cycles.
The changes attracted criticism from several political stakeholders who argued that the process gave excessive influence to party leadership, leading to the defeat of dozens of sitting lawmakers during the primaries.
Despite the concerns, Akpabio defended the performance of the 10th National Assembly, saying it had passed several landmark legislations aimed at improving security, economic growth and national development.
He cited laws strengthening the fight against terrorism, reforms aimed at returning out-of-school children to classrooms, tax reforms designed to boost the economy while protecting ordinary Nigerians, approval of a new national minimum wage, investment-focused legislation and the establishment of Regional Development Commissions. Akpabio, however, lamented that many Nigerians criticise legislation without taking time to understand its contents.
Describing the National Assembly Open Week as an important democratic initiative, he encouraged Nigerians to actively engage with lawmakers by offering constructive criticism and participating in the legislative process.
“A parliament that listens becomes wiser. A democracy that listens becomes stronger. Ultimately, Parliament is judged not by what it says, but by what it does,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, the Catholic Bishop Emeritus of the Abuja Archdiocese, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, urged members of the National Assembly to remain committed to their constitutional responsibility of representing the people and serving as an effective check on the Executive arm of government.
According to the cleric, the legislature remains the cornerstone of democratic governance and must not abandon the trust reposed in it by Nigerians.
Similarly, Executive Director of the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), Clement Nwankwo, called on lawmakers to strengthen oversight of the Executive, improve transparency and ensure prompt attention to national issues.
He stressed that while lawmaking is essential, democracy can only thrive when Parliament effectively holds the Executive accountable, ensures prudent management of public resources and faithfully represents the interests of citizens. Nwankwo warned that weak legislative oversight encourages corruption and erodes public confidence, while an independent and courageous National Assembly remains critical to sustaining Nigeria’s democracy.
