The National Assembly has introduced sweeping reforms in the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2026, including a mandatory two-year prison sentence for any Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) who withholds critical electoral documents. The law also establishes a dedicated fund to guarantee the financial autonomy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general election. The reforms were highlighted in Abuja by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele on Sunday, February 22, who described the new legislation as the product of two years of consultations and legislative engagement. The law comes amid criticism from opposition parties, who argue that certain provisions relating to party primaries, campaign financing and election timelines favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, both the Presidency and the APC have defended the amendments as necessary to strengthen electoral integrity and deepen democracy.Bamidele maintained that the new framework contains significant improvements, including mandatory deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), upward review of campaign spending limits, and stricter penalties for electoral offences. The Electoral Bill 2026 was harmonised by both chambers of the National Assembly, particularly over contentious provisions such as Clause 60(3), before it was transmitted to Bola Tinubu for assent. The President signed the bill into law within 24 hours of its passage. Despite concerns raised by some civil society groups over the speed of assent, Senate leadership insisted the process was inclusive, involving stakeholders such as the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, civil society organisations, INEC and development partners. A key feature of the new Act is the creation of a dedicated fund under Section 3 to ensure INECs financial and operational independence. The law mandates that election funds must be released at least six months before a general election. Section 60(3) makes electronic transmission of results to INECs Result Viewing Portal (IReV) compulsory. Under Section 60(6), any presiding officer who deliberately frustrates electronic transmission faces six months imprisonment, a fine of N500,000, or both. The law clarifies that IReV is not a collation platform but a transparency tool, and allows conditional resort to Form EC8A where electronic transmission fails due to communication challenges, as prescribed by INEC. In a major anti-impunity measure, Section 74(1) requires a REC to release a certified true copy of requested documents within 24 hours after payment. Failure to comply attracts a minimum two-year jail term without the option of a fine. Similarly, Section 72(2) provides that a certified true copy of a court judgment is sufficient for swearing in a candidate declared winner by a court, where INEC fails to issue a certificate of return.The Act also stiffens penalties for vote-buying, impersonation and result manipulation. Offenders now face a two-year jail term or fines ranging from N500,000 to N2 million upon conviction.Unlike the repealed 2022 Electoral Act, the new legislation abolishes indirect primaries, retaining only direct and consensus primaries in a bid to broaden participation and reduce monetisation of party delegates.Political parties are now required to maintain digital membership registers, issue membership cards and submit updated registers to INEC at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions. Failure to comply disqualifies the party from fielding candidates in the affected election. Campaign spending limits have also been revised upward. The presidential cap increases from N5 billion to N10 billion; governorship from N1 billion to N3 billion; Senate from N500 million to N1 billion; House of Representatives from N70 million to N250 million; House of Assembly from N30 million to N100 million; Area Council from N30 million to N60 million; and councillorship from N5 million to N10 million. Additional provisions include gender-sensitive queue arrangements where cultural practices require separation, support mechanisms for persons with visual impairment, and a N10 million fine for political parties that fail to submit accurate audited financial returns within the stipulated period. Bamidele said the Electoral Act, 2026, consolidates and refines Nigerias electoral governance framework, strengthening transparency, technological integration, accountability and institutional independence while imposing tougher consequences for electoral misconduct. The post Rigging: INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners risk two-year jail term appeared first on Time.com.ng.
The National Assembly has introduced sweeping reforms in the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2026, including a mandatory two-year prison sentence for any Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) who withholds critical electoral documents. The law also establishes a dedicated fund to guarantee the financial autonomy of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general election. The reforms were highlighted in Abuja by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele on Sunday, February 22, who described the new legislation as the product of two years of consultations and legislative engagement. The law comes amid criticism from opposition parties, who argue that certain provisions relating to party primaries, campaign financing and election timelines favour the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). However, both the Presidency and the APC have defended the amendments as necessary to strengthen electoral integrity and deepen democracy.Bamidele maintained that the new framework contains significant improvements, including mandatory deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), upward review of campaign spending limits, and stricter penalties for electoral offences. The Electoral Bill 2026 was harmonised by both chambers of the National Assembly, particularly over contentious provisions such as Clause 60(3), before it was transmitted to Bola Tinubu for assent. The President signed the bill into law within 24 hours of its passage. Despite concerns raised by some civil society groups over the speed of assent, Senate leadership insisted the process was inclusive, involving stakeholders such as the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, civil society organisations, INEC and development partners. A key feature of the new Act is the creation of a dedicated fund under Section 3 to ensure INECs financial and operational independence. The law mandates that election funds must be released at least six months before a general election. Section 60(3) makes electronic transmission of results to INECs Result Viewing Portal (IReV) compulsory. Under Section 60(6), any presiding officer who deliberately frustrates electronic transmission faces six months imprisonment, a fine of N500,000, or both. The law clarifies that IReV is not a collation platform but a transparency tool, and allows conditional resort to Form EC8A where electronic transmission fails due to communication challenges, as prescribed by INEC. In a major anti-impunity measure, Section 74(1) requires a REC to release a certified true copy of requested documents within 24 hours after payment. Failure to comply attracts a minimum two-year jail term without the option of a fine. Similarly, Section 72(2) provides that a certified true copy of a court judgment is sufficient for swearing in a candidate declared winner by a court, where INEC fails to issue a certificate of return.The Act also stiffens penalties for vote-buying, impersonation and result manipulation. Offenders now face a two-year jail term or fines ranging from N500,000 to N2 million upon conviction.Unlike the repealed 2022 Electoral Act, the new legislation abolishes indirect primaries, retaining only direct and consensus primaries in a bid to broaden participation and reduce monetisation of party delegates.Political parties are now required to maintain digital membership registers, issue membership cards and submit updated registers to INEC at least 21 days before primaries, congresses or conventions. Failure to comply disqualifies the party from fielding candidates in the affected election. Campaign spending limits have also been revised upward. The presidential cap increases from N5 billion to N10 billion; governorship from N1 billion to N3 billion; Senate from N500 million to N1 billion; House of Representatives from N70 million to N250 million; House of Assembly from N30 million to N100 million; Area Council from N30 million to N60 million; and councillorship from N5 million to N10 million. Additional provisions include gender-sensitive queue arrangements where cultural practices require separation, support mechanisms for persons with visual impairment, and a N10 million fine for political parties that fail to submit accurate audited financial returns within the stipulated period. Bamidele said the Electoral Act, 2026, consolidates and refines Nigerias electoral governance framework, strengthening transparency, technological integration, accountability and institutional independence while imposing tougher consequences for electoral misconduct. The post Rigging: INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners risk two-year jail term appeared first on Time.com.ng.