The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 after an intense five-hour debate, introducing key reforms to the country’s electoral framework while rejecting certain proposed changes.
The upper chamber notably refused to make the electronic transmission of polling unit results mandatory, leaving INEC with the discretion to determine how results and accreditation data are shared. Lawmakers also approved the replacement of smart card readers with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation, but retained the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) as the sole mandatory voter identification.
Significant administrative timelines were shortened, with notices of election and submission of candidate lists now due closer to election dates. While the Senate rejected a proposed 10-year jail term for the buying and selling of PVCs, it increased fines from ₦2 million to ₦5 million. Other provisions, including legal evidence rules and ballot paper inspection procedures, were maintained or modified to ensure efficiency and prevent unnecessary delays in electoral processes.
The bill’s passage mark a balance between adopting modern technology and preserving legislative safeguards, as Nigeria prepare for increasingly complex elections.
