The House of Representatives has passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, through third reading ahead of the 2027 general election, introducing stiffer penalties for electoral offences.
The bill prescribes a 10-year prison term or a N75 million fine for anyone convicted of forging nomination papers or election result forms, or destroying election-related documents. Lawmakers also approved higher fines and imposed a N5 million penalty for the improper use of a voter’s card.
According to the chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, the Senate and House committees will harmonise the bill and transmit it to the presidency for assent by the second week of January 2026.
The House resolved that in cases of over-voting, excess votes should be deducted proportionately from all participating political parties, with presiding officers liable to prosecution. Lawmakers rejected a proposal to jail individuals for inducing delegates at party primaries, citing fears of political witch-hunts, and removed the provision mandating fresh elections where over-voting occurs.
Balogun said proposals on early voting, inmate voting and diaspora voting were excluded, noting that unresolved identity and registration challenges remain. He added that despite network issues, presiding officers must transmit election results from polling units in line with the law.
