The National Assembly of Nigeria has introduced far-reaching reforms in the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, mandating electronic transmission of election results, compulsory use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and digital membership registers for political parties.
The reforms are aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the new law followed two years of consultations with major stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, civil society groups, and development partners.
He described the legislation as a product of broad national consensus, noting that contributions from stakeholders were incorporated before the bill was transmitted for presidential assent.
The harmonised bill was signed into law by Bola Tinubu within 24 hours of its passage, a move lawmakers said was necessary to avoid constitutional uncertainties ahead of the next general elections.
Key Provisions of the Electoral Act 2026
Among the major reforms introduced are:
Dedicated INEC Fund: The law grants financial autonomy to INEC and mandates the release of election funds at least six months before any poll.
Mandatory BVAS Accreditation: Presiding officers are required to use BVAS or other approved technological devices for voter verification.
Electronic Transmission of Results: Results from polling units must be electronically uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), with penalties for failure to comply.
Digital Party Registers: Political parties must maintain verified digital membership registers and submit them to INEC at least 21 days before conducting primaries.
Tougher Sanctions for Electoral Offences
The new law also introduces stricter penalties to curb malpractice. Resident Electoral Commissioners who withhold critical documents risk a two-year jail term. Presiding officers who frustrate electronic transmission of results face six months’ imprisonment or a ₦500,000 fine.
Offences such as vote buying, impersonation, and result manipulation attract penalties of up to two years’ imprisonment or fines ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦2 million. Political parties that fail to submit accurate audited financial returns could face fines of up to ₦10 million.
Changes to Party Primaries and Campaign Spending
The Act eliminates indirect primaries, leaving only direct and consensus options in a bid to broaden participation and reduce delegate inducement.
Campaign spending limits have also been significantly increased. The cap for presidential candidates rises from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion, while governorship candidates can now spend up to ₦3 billion, up from ₦1 billion. Senate candidates have a new limit of ₦500 million, while House of Representatives candidates are capped at ₦250 million.
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Inclusion Measures
To improve inclusivity, the legislation provides for queue separation in areas where cultural norms require it and introduces support mechanisms for visually impaired voters.
Bamidele said the reforms are designed to strengthen transparency, institutional independence, and technological integration in election management.
According to him, the Electoral Act 2026 consolidates and refines Nigeria’s electoral governance framework, with the goal of reducing disputes, boosting public confidence, and deepening democratic practice ahead of the 2027 elections.
