The National Assembly has outlined major reforms in the Electoral Act 2026, including mandatory electronic transmission of results, compulsory use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), creation of a dedicated fund for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and stricter regulations for political parties.
Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, explained that the reforms are the outcome of two years of consultations involving INEC, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), civil society organisations, and development partners. The harmonised Electoral Bill 2026 was transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent, which he signed within 24 hours.
Financial Autonomy for INEC
Section 3 establishes a dedicated fund for INEC to guarantee financial autonomy and operational continuity. Election funds must be released at least six months before polls, and INEC can review results declared under duress or procedural violations.
Technology-Driven Elections
Section 47 mandates presiding officers to use BVAS or other INEC-approved devices for voter accreditation. Section 60(3) requires electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), with Section 60(6) prescribing a six-month jail term or ₦500,000 fine — or both — for non-compliance. Form EC8A may be used if transmission fails.
Sanctions and Administration
Sections 74(1), 72(2), and 125(1-2) introduce strict penalties for infractions, including a minimum two-year imprisonment for failure to release certified documents, and fines/jail terms for vote buying, impersonation, or result manipulation.
Reforms to Party Primaries
Indirect primaries are eliminated; only direct and consensus primaries are permitted. Political parties must maintain digital membership registers, issue membership cards, and submit them to INEC 21 days before primaries, congresses, or conventions. Non-compliance bars candidate participation.
Campaign Spending and Inclusion
Section 92 revises spending limits, e.g., ₦10 billion for presidential campaigns and ₦60 million for Area Council campaigns. Parties failing to submit audited returns face a ₦10 million fine. The Act also introduces gender-separated queues and provisions for visually impaired voters.
Bamidele described the Electoral Act 2026 as a consolidation of Nigeria’s electoral governance framework, enhancing INEC’s independence, improving transparency, integrating technology, and reinforcing accountability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
