The Senate on Thursday, October 16, suspended debate on the Electoral Bill 2025 to allow for wider consultations and further deliberation on its provisions.

The decision came after the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong (Plateau South), concluded his presentation on the general principles of the bill.

Following his presentation, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who presided over the plenary, remarked that Lalong had not provided sufficient detail on the key principles of the proposed legislation. He, therefore, suggested that the upper chamber hold an executive session to review the bill more comprehensively.

However, the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), advised against holding an executive session on the same day, describing it as “too auspicious” for such a discussion. Instead, he proposed that the bill be stepped down and rescheduled for consideration on another legislative day.

Akpabio subsequently put the motion to a voice vote, and senators unanimously agreed to step down debate on the Electoral Bill 2025 pending further consultations and clarifications.