National Assembly introduces major changes to electoral law
Opeyemi Bamidele announced that the National Assembly has enacted the Electoral Act 2026, aiming to improve Nigeria’s electoral system. The reforms include mandatory electronic transmission of results, compulsory use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, and digital party membership registers. The law was developed through extensive consultations with stakeholders and signed by President Bola Tinubu within 24 hours of harmonisation. The new act introduces stricter penalties for electoral offences and revises campaign spending limits.
Key takeaways
- The Electoral Act 2026 mandates electronic transmission of polling unit results and compulsory use of BVAS for voter accreditation.
- Political parties must maintain digital membership registers and submit them to INEC 21 days before primaries.
- Stricter penalties include jail terms and heavy fines for electoral offences such as vote buying, result manipulation, and non-compliance with result transmission.
- The Act phases out indirect primaries, allowing only direct and consensus methods, and increases campaign spending limits for all offices.
- New provisions aim to enhance inclusivity, transparency, and technological integration in Nigeria’s electoral process.
