New Electoral Act Introduces Targeted Reforms – Reps

House of Representatives has said the newly signed Electoral Act 2026 introduced targeted reforms to address interpretative ambiguities exposed by recent electoral litigation.

The spokesman of the House, Hon. Akin Rotimi, in a statement said the new law also aimed to strengthen institutional safeguards designed to protect the sanctity of the ballot across successive electoral cycles.

Both chambers of the National Assembly passed the bill on Tuesday while President Bola Tinubu signed it into law on Wednesday.

Rotimi said the amendments in the Act, among other things, provide the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with a clearer statutory framework and sufficient latitude to contemplate lawful adjustments to the electoral timetable while safeguarding the integrity, stability, and certainty of the electoral calendar.

He itemised 10 major highlights of the Act and their implications as follows:

Election Funding Certainty

Election funds must be released to INEC at least one year before a general election, strengthening operational preparedness, improving procurement planning, and reducing opportunities for undue executive influence.

Revised Election Notice Timeline

The statutory Notice of Election is now issued 300 days before polling day, providing INEC with ample time for strategic planning and logistical preparations, while minimizing the risk of prolonged pre-election tensions and ensuring a well-organized and efficient electoral process.

Streamlined Candidate Nomination Process

The deadline for submission of candidate lists is shortened from 180 to 120 days before election day. This compresses the intra-party disputes timeline and allows earlier resolution of pre-election litigation, ensuring focus on substantive electoral issues.

Statutory Codification of BVAS

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is now expressly entrenched in law, eliminating administrative discretion and strengthening electronic accreditation safeguards against overvoting or manipulation.

Mandated Electronic Transmission

Electronic transmission of Form EC8A election results to the IReV is now mandatory, ensuring that valid votes are fully and accurately reflected. The Bill provides safeguards to address any rare instances where transmission may be impossible, preserving the integrity and credibility of the electoral outcome.

Strengthened Criminal Sanctions for Collation Infractions

Intentional false declarations or deliberate violations of collation procedures now attract a mandatory minimum of ten years’ imprisonment without the option of a fine, enhancing deterrence and accountability.

Statutory Backing for IReV

The Election Results Viewing Portal (IReV) receives explicit statutory recognition, reinforcing transparency and enabling independent verification of polling unit outcomes.

Reinforced Overvoting Controls

Enhanced cross-verification mechanisms are introduced at the collation stage to automatically identify and cancel results exceeding accredited voter counts, reducing aggregation center manipulation risk.

Clarified Seven-Day Review Authority

Procedural triggers for INEC’s seven-day review of declarations made under duress are now precisely defined, providing a narrow administrative correction window before formal litigation.

Digital Verification of Party Membership Registers

Political parties are required to maintain verifiable digital membership records, reinforcing internal democracy and reducing risks of factional manipulation within party structures.