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The Senate re-amended the 2021 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to accommodate the direct, indirect and consensus mode of electing candidates by political parties. Clause 84(3) requires that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party, while Clause 84(4) requires that a National Convention be held for the ratification of the candidate with the highest number of votes. The amendment followed a motion for its re-committal to the Committee of the Whole. Members of the House of Representatives expunged clause 84 (2) of the bill to incorporate a fresh stipulation that allows political parties to adopt direct and indirect primary methods of nominating candidates for election. A member of the House, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, alleged new clauses have been inputted into the bill to ensure President Buhari rejects it. The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, denied the allegation, saying nothing was included in the bill. The bill was passed despite the opposition.

The Senate re-amended the 2021 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to accommodate the direct, indirect and consensus mode of electing candidates by political parties. Clause 84(3) requires that all aspirants are given equal opportunity of being voted for by members of the party, while Clause 84(4) requires that a National Convention be held for the ratification of the candidate with the highest number of votes. The amendment followed a motion for its re-committal to the Committee of the Whole. Members of the House of Representatives expunged clause 84 (2) of the bill to incorporate a fresh stipulation that allows political parties to adopt direct and indirect primary methods of nominating candidates for election. A member of the House, Awaji-Inombek Abiante, alleged new clauses have been inputted into the bill to ensure President Buhari rejects it. The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, denied the allegation, saying nothing was included in the bill. The bill was passed despite the opposition.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that it will not release the 2023 general election timetable until the Electoral Act Amendment Bill is signed into law. President Muhammadu Buhari had withheld assent to the bill due to controversies surrounding the mode of primaries by parties. Yakubu also announced that 8,260,076 eligible Nigerians have commenced the online pre-registration, completed the registration physically or applied for a transfer to new voting locations, replacement of their Permanent Voters' Cards (PVCs) or updated their voter information records. He warned parties to ensure a transparent and rancour-free primary. The Ekiti governorship primaries have been held in the last four days, with seven political parties choosing the last day for their primaries. However, no party has submitted its list of aspirants, the composition of its electoral panel, or the register of members or list of delegates. The Chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) and the Chairman of Action Democratic Party (ADP) have called on the National Assembly and the executive to quickly resolve the contentious issues and pass the new Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which should be signed into law by the President.

The National Assembly resumes plenary today after the Yuletide break, and governors elected on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on legislators not to sustain President Muhammadu Buhari's veto of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2021. They re-echoed the position of the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Attahiru Jega, that the early conclusion of the amendment is vital for credible elections. They also lamented the continued state of insecurity in the country, persistent and ceaseless flow of Nigerians' blood on a daily basis, and the near collapse of security situation. They urged Mr President to reconsider his position and consider decentralisation and restructuring of the security architecture as the most viable solution, together with proper arming, funding and training requirements for security agencies. The governors and CSOs have called on the legislature and President Buhari to conclude the process of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill by January 31, first by retransmitting the bill to the President for assent by Friday, January 21, and then by assenting to the bill within one week. The CSOs warned that further delay on the conclusion of the amendment process was inimical to the preparations for Ekiti and Osun elections.