The National Assembly has outlined sweeping reforms embedded in the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2026, describing the legislation as a product of two years of extensive consultations with critical stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), civil society organisations (CSOs), and development partners.
Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed the highlights in a statement issued Sunday by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, emphasising that the law was not a unilateral effort of parliament but a collective national undertaking.
Dedicated INEC Fund, Early Release of Election Funds
Under Section 3 of the Act, a dedicated fund has been established for INEC to guarantee financial autonomy, operational stability, and administrative continuity. The law mandates that election funds be released at least six months before general elections, strengthening the commission’s preparedness and independence.
Section 47 makes the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) mandatory for voter accreditation, while Section 60(3) compels the electronic transmission of results to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Presiding officers who deliberately frustrate electronic transmission face a six-month jail term or a ₦500,000 fine, or both. However, the Act allows conditional resort to manual transmission using Form EC8A where technological failure occurs.
The Act prescribes a two-year jail term for any Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) who fails to release certified documents within 24 hours of payment. It also strengthens sanctions against vote buying, impersonation, and result manipulation, with penalties ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦2 million or up to two years’ imprisonment.
Reforms in Party Primaries
The new regime phases out indirect primaries, permitting only direct and consensus primaries. Political parties must now maintain a digital membership register, issue membership cards, and submit the register to INEC at least 21 days before primaries. Failure to comply disqualifies the party from fielding candidates.
The Act revises upward campaign spending ceilings, raising the presidential limit from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion, governorship to ₦3 billion, and adjusting thresholds for National and State Assembly elections accordingly.
Additional provisions mandate gender-sensitive queue arrangements where culturally required, establish support mechanisms for visually impaired voters, and impose a ₦10 million fine on parties that fail to submit accurate audited returns.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the bill into law within 24 hours of its transmission, completing the legislative process ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
According to Bamidele, the Electoral Act, 2026 consolidates Nigeria’s electoral governance framework, enhances transparency through technological integration, strengthens INEC’s independence, and reinforces accountability mechanisms aimed at deepening democratic stability.
NASS Unveils Key Reforms in 2026 Electoral Act
