President Bola Tinubu has signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law, ushering in significant changes aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s electoral process and enhancing transparency ahead of future elections.
The amendment introduces seven key reforms affecting voter registration, result transmission, party primaries, and election timelines.
One of the major changes is the restriction of documents required for voter registration to three: birth certificate, Nigerian passport, and National Identification Number (NIN). The reform is expected to streamline the registration process and improve the credibility of the voter database.
In a move to leverage technology, the law now allows voters to download their Permanent Voter Card (PVC) directly from the website of the Independent National Electoral Commission, making access easier and reducing logistical challenges.
The amendment also makes electronic transmission of election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) compulsory. However, it provides that where electronic transmission fails, the physical result sheet, known as EC8A, will serve as the primary source for collation and declaration of results.
On political party primaries, the new law adopts direct primaries and consensus as the only approved methods for the nomination of candidates, eliminating other options previously available to political parties.
The law further adjusts the timeline for election funding, requiring that funds be released to INEC at least six months before a general election, compared to the previous requirement of 12 months.
Political parties are now required to submit their list of candidates not later than 120 days before election day, instead of the former 180 days deadline.
In addition, INEC is mandated to publish the final list of candidates 60 days before the election, a reduction from the previous 150 days timeline.
The presidency said the amendments are part of ongoing efforts to improve efficiency, strengthen electoral credibility, and address challenges experienced in previous elections.
Observers say the new provisions could significantly reshape Nigeria’s electoral landscape by promoting transparency, reducing delays, and enhancing public confidence in the electoral system.
