Reps Okay Electronic Transmission Of Election Results, Stiffer Penalties For Vote Trading

The House of Representatives has approved electronic transmission of election results from polling units to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Result Viewing Portal (IREV).

This followed the adoption of a clause seeking to enhance transparency and credibility of elections in the Electoral Bill 2025 during consideration by the House of Representatives Committee of the Whole.

Clause 60(3) of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, mandates INEC to electronically transmit results from polling units to the INEC Result Viewing Portal in real-time, together with physical collation of results.

The proposal stated that result transmission must be carried out simultaneously with physical collation, strengthening safeguards against manipulation.

The House also approved provision, which allows the use of electronically generated voter identification, including downloadable voter cards with unique QR codes, or any other identification prescribed by INEC, for voter accreditation and voting.

In the approved report, the House also prescribed stiffer penalties for vote buying and selling, including a minimum of two-year imprisonment or a N5 million fine, or both, alongside a 10-year ban from contesting elections.

Under the amended Clause 22 (a and c), individuals involved in vote buying or selling and voter cards will face tougher sanctions than previously provided, where penalties were capped at N500,000 or a maximum of two-year imprisonment.

The Green Chamber equally amended the sanctions for presiding officers who deliberately breach procedures on counting, announcement, and transmission of polling unit election results.

A new Section 60(6) prescribes a minimum fine of N500,000 or at least six months’ imprisonment, or both, for any presiding officer who willfully violates the provisions.

It further approved a clause mandating the release of election funds to INEC at least one year before a general election, in a bid to enhance early planning and efficient conduct of polls.

The House equally increased penalties for multiple voter registrations. Under the amended Clause 12(3), offenders now risk a minimum fine of N100,000 or at least one-year imprisonment, or both.

It extended the deadline for political parties to submit their list of candidates to INEC from 180 days to 210 days before an election, allowing the Commission more time for processing.

The House also approved clause 93(2-9), increasing the maximum election expenses to be incurred by a presidential candidate from the previous N5 billion to N10 billion; governorship from N1 billion to N3 billion; senatorial and House of Representatives candidates from N100 million and N70 million, respectively, to N500 million and N250 million, respectively.

For the State Houses of Assembly, campaign expenses were increased from N30 million to N100 million; chairmanship from N30 million to N60 million while councillorship was increased from N5 million to N10 million.

The proposed law provides that an individual or other entity shall not donate to a candidate more than N500 million.

The House, however, dropped a clause seeking to penalise inducements of delegates during primaries, congresses and conventions of political parties.

The clause, 89(4) provides that “a person that financially or materially induces a delegate for the purpose of influencing the outcome of party primaries, congresses and conventions commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment to a term of two years without an option of fine.”

Members of the House raised concerns over the proposal that it could be an entrapment for them.

Addressing journalists after consideration of the report on the Bill, the chairman House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, said the Electoral Act 2022 remains one of the most progressive electoral laws in the country’s history.

He, however, said the amendments proposed under the Electoral Bill, 2025, were designed to consolidate its strengths, address observed gaps, and improve implementation without undermining the stability of the existing legal framework.

Balogun said: “…several of the proposed provisions such as Early Voting, Inmate Voting, Removal of the Permanent Voters Card (PVC), election timelines amongst others, that would have occasioned such a fundamental transformation were not approved at the committee stage.

“The House, sitting as a Committee of the Whole during the consideration of the report, wisely resolved that it would be more appropriate to proceed by way of amendment rather than outright repeal of the Electoral Act 2022.

“This decision is not a setback to the electoral reform. Rather, it reflects the maturity of our democracy and the responsibility of Parliament to legislate in a manner that is inclusive, balanced, and anchored on broad agreement.

“While some innovative proposals could not be accommodated at this stage, they remain part of our national discourse on electoral reform. As our democracy evolves and wider consensus is achieved, such ideas can be revisited in the future through further legislative intervention.

“As we have concluded consideration of this report, I reaffirm the commitment of the House of Representatives, and indeed the National Assembly, to credible elections, democratic stability, and the continuous improvement of our electoral laws.”