The Nigerian Senate has announced that it will debate and consider the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act on Thursday.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio made the announcement during Wednesday’s plenary, following a request by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele for senators to take home the report prepared by the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for detailed clause-by-clause review.
Akpabio emphasized the need for careful scrutiny, warning against rushing the bill’s passage. “This is a very important bill, especially with elections approaching. If we rush it, we risk tribunal challenges. Doing it properly will ensure that Nigerians can have free and fair elections,” he said.
Next Legislative Day
The debate on the general principles of the Electoral Act amendment, initially scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed due to the absence of Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, who was expected to present the committee’s report.
Following a consultation among Senate leaders, it was agreed that the presentation and debate would be deferred to the next legislative day. Bamidele moved a motion to step down the bill until Thursday, including a brief closed-door session on the proposed amendments before public debate. The motion was supported overwhelmingly by senators.
Key Proposals in the Electoral Amendment Bill
The bill contains around 20 proposals aimed at reforming Nigeria’s electoral process:
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PVC Flexibility: One of the major proposals seeks to make the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) optional. Since the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) does not rely solely on the PVC’s microchip, voters could also use the National Identification Number (NIN), international passport, or birth certificate.
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Electronic Transmission & Accountability: Section 60(5) proposes mandatory electronic transmission of election results. Section 71(2) seeks to criminalize distributing unstamped or unsigned ballot papers and result sheets, with penalties of at least one year’s imprisonment, a fine of N1 million, or both, for any presiding or collation officer involved.
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Campaign Spending Limits: The bill also proposes increases in campaign spending caps for candidates:
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Presidential candidates: ₦5 billion → ₦10 billion
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Governorship candidates: ₦1 billion → ₦3 billion
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Senatorial candidates: ₦100 million → ₦500 million
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House of Representatives: ₦70 million → ₦250 million
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State House of Assembly: ₦30 million → ₦100 million
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Local government chairmanship: ₦100 million
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Councillorship: ₦5 million → ₦10 million
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The amendments aim to modernize electoral processes, improve transparency, and ensure that elections are more credible while reflecting current technological and political realities in Nigeria.
