Wide-ranging changes to the Electoral Act have been adopted by the House of Representatives.
These changes include harsher penalties for vote buying and selling, such as a minimum two-year jail sentence, a N5 million fine, or both, as well as a ten-year prohibition from running for office.
The decision was made at the Committee of the Whole’s clause-by-clause review of the House Committee on Electoral Matters report, which was chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
Those who purchase or sell votes and voter cards now risk even harsher penalties under the modified Clause 22 (a and c) than they did before, when the maximum penalty was N500,000 or two years in jail.
In a move aimed at enhancing the transparency and credibility of elections, the House also adopted an amendment to Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act, mandating the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to electronically transmit results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) in real time, alongside physical collation of results.
The new provision states that result transmission must be carried out simultaneously with physical collation, strengthening safeguards against manipulation.
Lawmakers further amended the sanctions for presiding officers who deliberately breach procedures on counting, announcement, and transmission of polling unit results. A new Section 60(6) prescribes a minimum fine of N500,000 or at least six months’ imprisonment, or both, for any presiding officer who willfully contravenes the provisions.
The House also approved a clause mandating the release of election funds to INEC at least one year before a general election, in a bid to enhance early planning and efficient conduct of polls.
To curb electoral fraud, lawmakers increased penalties for multiple voter registration. Under the amended Clause 12(3), offenders now risk a minimum fine of N100,000 or at least one year’s imprisonment, or both.
In another adjustment, the House extended the deadline for political parties to submit their list of candidates to INEC from 180 days to 210 days before an election, allowing the commission more time for processing.
The House further approved provisions allowing the use of electronically generated voter identification, including downloadable voter cards with unique QR codes, or any other identification prescribed by INEC, for voter accreditation and voting.
