The National Assembly of Nigeria outlines sweeping reforms introduced in the Electoral Act 2026, highlighting mandatory electronic transmission of results, compulsory use of BVAS for voter accreditation, establishment of a dedicated fund for the electoral body, and stricter regulations for political parties.
According to Mediaplusng.com, lawmakers explain that the new electoral governance framework emerges after two years of consultations and engagement 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, provides details of the reforms in a statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs. He states that the process involves harmonisation of different versions of the Electoral Bill by both chambers of parliament before its transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
Mediaplusng.com reports that the President signs the Electoral Bill 2026 into law within 24 hours of its transmission, completing a legislative process designed to avoid constitutional uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general election cycle.
Among the key reforms, the Act establishes a dedicated fund for INEC to guarantee financial autonomy, operational stability, and administrative continuity. The law mandates that election funds be released at least six months before a general election, strengthening institutional independence and enabling timely preparations.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the Act makes the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) mandatory for voter accreditation. It also requires electronic transmission of election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), reinforcing transparency and accountability in the collation process.
The legislation prescribes penalties for non-compliance. Presiding officers who deliberately frustrate electronic transmission face a six-month prison term, a fine of ₦500,000, or both. Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) who withhold certified documents risk a minimum of two years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.
The Act further mandates political parties to maintain a digital membership register, issue membership cards, and submit the register to INEC at least 21 days before conducting primaries, congresses, or conventions. Parties that fail to comply are barred from fielding candidates, a move lawmakers say strengthens internal democracy and reduces delegate monetisation.
In addition, indirect primaries are phased out, leaving only direct and consensus primaries as approved methods for candidate selection. Lawmakers argue that this reform broadens participation among party members and enhances transparency within party structures.
The Electoral Act 2026 also reviews upward campaign spending limits. The presidential spending cap rises from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion; governorship from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion; Senate from ₦100 million to ₦500 million; House of Representatives from ₦70 million to ₦250 million; House of Assembly from ₦30 million to ₦100 million; Area Council from ₦30 million to ₦60 million; and councillorship from ₦5 million to ₦10 million.
Stronger penalties are introduced for vote buying, impersonation, and result manipulation, with offenders facing up to two years in prison or fines ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦2 million, or both. The Act also mandates inclusivity measures, including support mechanisms for persons with visual impairment and gender-sensitive queue arrangements where required by cultural context.
Lawmakers emphasize that the Electoral Act 2026 consolidates previous reforms while introducing new accountability safeguards. They state that the legislation enhances technological integration, strengthens transparency in collation and declaration, and reinforces democratic governance in Nigeria.
With the new legal framework now in force, stakeholders say attention shifts to implementation, capacity building, and sustained collaboration among electoral institutions, political parties, and civil society to ensure credible and dispute-free elections in the years ahead.
