After a series of delays, the Senate yesterday passed the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Reenactment) Amendment Bill 2026 through its third reading, signaling a major step toward reforming the conduct of elections across the country. The passage followed months of deliberations, amid mounting public and political pressure to ensure that electoral processes in Nigeria are strengthened, transparent, and more credible. Lawmakers emphasized that the amendments were intended to regulate, correct, and enhance the conduct of federal, state, and area council elections, particularly in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where previous elections had been marred by logistical challenges and public skepticism.
The development came after a detailed clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill by the Senate in the Committee of the Whole, which allowed lawmakers to scrutinize every provision before laying it on the floor for final deliberation and voting. During the committee stage, Senators debated various clauses of the Bill, proposing amendments, rejecting others, and eventually consolidating the final text for passage. The process demonstrated the Senate’s commitment to electoral reforms and reflected the importance of thorough legislative scrutiny in shaping Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
One of the key points of contention was Clause 60, Subsection 3, which had proposed making the electronic transmission of election results mandatory. The Bill originally sought to require presiding officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to electronically transmit results from each polling unit to the IREV portal in real time, after the prescribed Form EC&A had been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and countersigned by candidates. However, federal lawmakers rejected the proposed amendment, opting instead to retain the existing provision of the Electoral Act, which states that “the presiding officer shall transfer the results, including the total number of accredited voters and the results of the ballot, in a manner as prescribed by the Commission.”
In response to concerns over the rejection of the electronic transmission requirement, President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, clarified that the Senate did not seek to undermine technology in elections. According to Akpabio, “electronic transmission has always been in our act. What we did was retain the existing provision, which already makes provision for electronic transmission,” adding that there was no attempt to delay or frustrate the passage of the Electoral Act. The statement was seen as an effort to reassure stakeholders that the integrity and modernization of election result reporting would not be compromised.
Another contentious issue was Clause 22, which originally proposed a 10-year jail term for buyers and sellers of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). The Senate rejected the harsher penalty, choosing instead to retain the two-year imprisonment term while increasing the fine from ₦2 million to ₦5 million. Lawmakers argued that the adjustment would maintain deterrence while balancing fairness and proportionality in enforcement. The decision reflects the Senate’s intent to strengthen voter integrity measures while avoiding overly punitive provisions that could complicate enforcement or discourage compliance.
Significant amendments were also made to Clauses 28 and 29 of the Bill, which relate to timelines for election preparations. Clause 28, concerning the notice of election, was revised to reduce the timeline from 360 days to 180 days before the election date. Similarly, Clause 29, which sets the deadline for submission of candidates’ lists and their affidavits, was amended from 180 days to 90 days. The amended provision states that “every political party shall, not later than 90 days before the date appointed for a general election under this Act, submit to the Commission, in the prescribed forms, the list of the candidates the party proposes to sponsor at the elections, who shall have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party.” These amendments were intended to streamline pre-election processes and ensure timely submission of relevant documentation.
The Senate retained Clause 44 on ballot paper inspection, which requires INEC to invite political parties in writing, not later than 20 days before an election, to inspect samples of relevant electoral materials, including candidate identities on the ballot. Political parties are allowed to respond within two days, indicating approval or disapproval. Additionally, Clause 47 was amended to replace smart card readers with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for accreditation and voting, while electronically generated voter identification was rejected in favor of the Permanent Voter Card as the standard mode of identification at polling units.
Clause 142, which outlined the effect of non-compliance with the Bill, was struck out following arguments that it could result in unnecessary delays in court proceedings. The clause originally stated that “it shall not be necessary for a party who alleges non-compliance with the provisions of this Bill for the conduct of elections to call oral evidence if originals or certified true copies of relevant documents manifestly disclose the non-compliance alleged.” Lawmakers concluded that retaining the provision could invite procedural inefficiencies and protracted litigation, thereby undermining the timely resolution of electoral disputes.
Following the Senate’s passage of the Bill, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, addressed the need for a thorough cleanup of the national voter register in preparation for the 2027 general elections. Speaking during his first Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Civil Society Organizations in Abuja, Amupitan emphasized that “a credible register of voters remains the bedrock of free, fair and transparent elections, stressing ‘no electoral process can command public confidence without trust in the integrity of its voters’ register.’” He noted that the country’s national register, first compiled ahead of the 2011 General Election, has since been continuously updated and deployed in subsequent elections, including the 2015, 2019, and 2023 general elections.
Amupitan highlighted persistent challenges affecting the integrity of the register, including duplicate registrations, under-age registration, registration by non-citizens, deceased voters, and incomplete or inaccurate records. He explained that such anomalies undermine public confidence in the electoral process. “Accordingly, the Commission will be embarking on a nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election. This is very important for us, because most of the time we talk of voters’ apathy,” he said, stressing the importance of ensuring that only eligible voters are reflected in the register.
The INEC Chairman provided a specific example, noting the discrepancy between registered voters and actual turnout in Anambra State. “When we conducted Anambra governorship elections there were over 2.8 million registered voters. As much as we tried to mobilise, the total number of voters was less than 600,000, and that was about 20% of the registered voters. So the general outcry is, oh, voters did not turn up. But sometimes, when we’re looking at the register of voters, for example in Anambra State, we discovered names of prominent politicians in Nigeria that have died; their names are still on the register. This, in a way, is an indictment on the register itself,” Amupitan said.
In addition to the revalidation exercise, Prof. Amupitan provided updates on associations seeking registration as political parties. He stated that INEC had received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration and that these were being assessed in line with Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), Section 79(1), (2), and (4) of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as Clause 2 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022. “Several of the associations were unable to fulfill the constitutional requirements and the requirements of the Electoral Act, 2022, as well as the Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties. Let me assure you that the successful association(s) will soon be announced by the commission,” he said.
Prof. Amupitan also spoke on the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, noting that the second phase began on January 5 and would run until April 17, 2026. He said that the entire exercise would span one year and be concluded on August 30, 2026. “In the first phase of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted from August 18 to December 10, 2025, the commission registered a total of 2,782,589 eligible voters,” he said, highlighting the strong public response to the exercise as evidence of Nigerians’ confidence in the democratic process.
He added that INEC had ensured transparency by publishing data on completed online pre-registrations and physical registrations on its website weekly. The Chairman emphasized that the combination of voter register cleanup, revalidation, and continuous registration was designed to enhance the credibility of the 2027 general elections and restore public confidence in electoral outcomes.
The passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026, combined with INEC’s planned reforms, represents a coordinated effort to address longstanding weaknesses in Nigeria’s electoral system. Analysts suggest that the legislative and administrative measures taken are likely to reduce incidences of voter fraud, enhance transparency in result transmission, and streamline the pre-election process, thus contributing to more credible elections.
Lawmakers and electoral stakeholders have generally welcomed the Bill, emphasizing that the amendments will strengthen electoral integrity while maintaining flexibility for INEC to implement procedures in line with technological capabilities and logistical realities. The Senate’s deliberations, including the rejection of overly punitive provisions and the retention of certain existing measures, reflect a balance between reform, practicality, and adherence to democratic principles.
With the passage of the Bill and the complementary measures being undertaken by INEC, observers say Nigeria is poised for an electoral framework that is better equipped to safeguard voter rights, ensure the accuracy of voter information, and deliver transparent and credible elections. As Prof. Amupitan noted, “no electoral process can command public confidence without trust in the integrity of its voters’ register,” underscoring the centrality of both legislative reform and administrative diligence in strengthening democracy in Nigeria.