ABUJA, February 5, 2026 – The Nigerian Senate has passed the Nigeria Electoral Act Amendment 2026, retaining INEC’s discretion on results transmission, revising election timelines, strengthening BVAS accreditation and redefining penalties ahead of 2027.
The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed the Nigeria Electoral Act Amendment 2026, concluding months of legislative debate on how far electoral reforms should go ahead of the 2027 general elections. The bill, adopted after clause-by-clause consideration, introduces targeted amendments to timelines, accreditation technology and penalties, while retaining INEC’s discretionary authority over the transmission of election results.
The passage of the Nigeria Electoral Act Amendment 2026 reflects a cautious reform philosophy. While lawmakers acknowledged the growing role of technology in election management, they declined to impose rigid statutory obligations that could limit operational flexibility in a country with uneven infrastructure and security conditions.
Central to the debate was Clause 60(3), which governs the transmission of polling unit results. A proposed amendment seeking to compel presiding officers to transmit results electronically and in real time to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal immediately after voting was rejected. Instead, the Senate retained the wording of the existing law.
Clause 60(3), as preserved under the Nigeria Electoral Act Amendment 2026, states:
“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.”
By retaining this clause, the Senate affirmed INEC’s authority to determine the mode and timing of result transmission through regulations and guidelines, rather than fixing a mandatory real-time process in law. Senate leaders argued that electronic transmission remains recognised, but that statutory rigidity could undermine credibility if systems fail on election day.
Beyond results transmission, the Nigeria Electoral Act Amendment 2026 significantly alters the electoral timetable. Under Clause 28, the period within which INEC must issue a notice of election has been reduced from 360 days to 180 days before polling. Lawmakers said the change would reduce prolonged political tension while maintaining sufficient preparation time for the commission.
Candidate nomination timelines were also shortened. Clause 29 now requires political parties to submit their list of candidates not later than 90 days before a general election, replacing longer deadlines under the previous framework. The amended clause reads:
“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.”
In terms of technology, the Senate formally entrenched the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System as the legally recognised voter accreditation tool. The Nigeria Electoral Act Amendment 2026 removes references to smart card readers, aligning the law with current INEC practice and providing legal backing for BVAS deployment nationwide.
However, lawmakers rejected proposals to introduce electronically generated voter identification, maintaining the Permanent Voter Card as the sole valid means of voter identification at polling units. The decision underscores a preference for incremental reform over rapid digital expansion without broad consensus.
Electoral offences were another focal point. Clause 22 was amended to increase penalties for offences such as unlawful possession of voters’ cards, raising fines from ₦2 million to ₦5 million. A proposal to impose a ten-year disqualification from contesting elections for individuals convicted of vote buying was rejected, with the Senate retaining the existing two-year imprisonment option alongside enhanced fines.
The Senate also struck out Clause 142, which would have allowed election petition tribunals to rely solely on documentary evidence without oral testimony to establish non-compliance. Lawmakers argued that such a provision could complicate judicial proceedings and place additional strain on the courts.
Provisions relating to transparency in ballot production were retained. Under Clause 44 of the Nigeria Electoral Act Amendment 2026, INEC must continue to invite political parties to inspect samples of ballot papers and sensitive materials not later than 20 days before an election, with parties retaining the right to approve or object in writing.
Reactions to the passage of the Nigeria Electoral Act Amendment 2026 have been divided. Civil society groups and opposition parties criticised the rejection of mandatory real-time electronic transmission, describing it as a missed opportunity to strengthen transparency. Supporters of the bill, however, argue that preserving INEC’s discretion enhances institutional stability and reduces the risk of systemic failure.
Following Senate passage, the bill will proceed to harmonisation with the House of Representatives’ version before transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent. Once enacted, the Nigeria Electoral Act Amendment 2026 will define the legal architecture for the 2027 elections, shaping how technology, timelines and institutional authority intersect in Nigeria’s democratic process.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
