Strat.1 Ensure the passage of the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill to confer powers of the Commission to prosecute electoral offences.
Strat.2 Amend the Electoral Act to rectify gaps observed, including vague and contradictory provisions.
Strat.3 Remove the ambiguities in the Electoral Act 2022
Strat.4 Set up a mechanism for periodic reviews of electoral laws to ensure they remain relevant and in tune with global best practices.
Specific Legislative Actions
Strat.1 The House of Representatives, as part of its electoral reform efforts, is actively pursuing the passage of the National Electoral Offences Commission Bill to establish an independent body with the authority to investigate and prosecute electoral offences. The bill (HB. 2172) sponsored by Hon. Adebayo Olusegun Balogun passed second reading on the 8th of May, 2025 (https://lightraymedia.org/2025/05/08/national-assembly-plenary-proceedings-house-of-reps-thurs-may-8th-2025)
Strat.2 The passage of the Electoral Act bill by the House of Representatives in November 2025, and the signing of the bill into law by the President in February 2026 has addressed several gaps identified in the previous legislation. Key improvements include clearer provisions on offences related to the voter register, the use of BVAS for voter accreditation and contingency measures in cases of device failure, as well as the electronic transmission of election results, among other reforms.
Strat.3 The signing of the Electoral Act into law by the President in February 2026 has addressed several gaps identified in the previous legislation and clarified ambiguities in key provisions. The Act introduces clearer guidance on offenses related to the voter register and the buying and selling of votes, strengthens the framework for the use of BVAS in voter accreditation with defined contingency measures in cases of device failure, and provides more explicit provisions for the electronic transmission of election results, among other reforms.
Strat.4 Although there is no publicly available information indicating that the House of Representatives has established a formal mechanism for the periodic review of electoral laws,
Electoral Reform
Not started
In progress
Completed
Implementation Strategies
Strat.1 Pass an independent legislation (the Political Parties Bill) to regulate the registration, financing and functioning of political parties and, by so doing, allow INEC to focus on the conduct of elections.
Strat.2 Make electronic transmission of results mandatory over time
Strat.3 Align the reconfiguration of technological devices used in between elections
Strat.4 Introduce early voting for eligible voters on election duty, such as INEC staff, observers and their drivers, security personnel, and journalists.
Strat.5 Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to allow diaspora voting by government officials around the world.
Strat.6 Stipulate sanctions for failure to submit register of party members not later than 30 days before the date of party primaries, congresses or conventions
Strat.7 Make more stringent the conditions regulating withdrawal of candidature and substitution
Strat.8 Allow candidates outside the political parties, as well as tax-paying citizens to file suits against candidates who provide false information to INEC regarding their candidature
Strat.9 Strengthen the Electoral Act to ensure that all cases are resolved and judgments made before the date of swearing-in
Specific Legislative Actions
Strat.1 The House of Representatives introduced the Political Parties Bill to establish an independent legal framework for regulating the registration, financing, and functioning of political parties in Nigeria- The bill (HB. 2227) sponsored by Hon. Abbas Tajudeen and Hon. Francis E. Waive seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to remove from Independent National Electoral Commission, the Powers of Registration and Regulation of political Parties in Nigeria and Transfer same to the Office of the Registrar General of Political Parties and for Related Matters, passed second Reading on the 13th of May, 2025
(https://lightraymedia.org/2025/05/13/plenary-proceedings-house-of-reps-tuesday-may-13th-2025). This process is also being captured in the ongoing constitution amendment process.
Strat.2 The House of Representatives through its committee on Electoral Matters passed and the President signed, the Electoral Acts in February 2026 which mandates the transmission electronic transmission of results. However, the transmission is not in real time. (Clause 60(3) of the Acts)
(https://placng.org/i/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ElectoralAct2026.pdf)
Strat.3 The Electoral Act 2026 provides for the proper reconfiguration of technological devices used between election cycles. This includes the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, ensuring they are updated and securely distributed and maintained for effective use in elections.
Strat.4 This proposal was stepped down during the NASS Joint review process of the bill before passing it for assent.
Strat.5 This proposal was stepped down during the NASS Joint review process of the bill before passing it for assent.
Strat.6 The House of Representatives introduced proposals to amend the Electoral Act, 2022, which was subsequently signed into law in February 2026. The law stipulates sanctions for any political party that fails to submit its membership register within 21 days, to include disqualification from fielding candidates in the affected election. (Clause 77(7))
(https://placng.org/i/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ElectoralAct2026.pdf)
Strat.7 This is stipulated in clause 31 of the 2026 Electoral Act
(https://placng.org/i/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ElectoralAct2026.pdf)
Strat.8 No specific bill yet to empower non-party candidates or citizens to sue over false information submitted to INEC.
Strat.9 The House of Representatives, through its ongoing review of the Electoral Act, has proposed amendments aimed at ensuring that all election-related cases and petitions are resolved, and judgments delivered, before the swearing-in of elected officials
Electoral Reform
Not started
In progress
Completed
Implementation Strategies (STRAT)
Strat.1 Propose amendments to the Constitution on issues related to elections in Nigeria to address the following shortcomings:
Appointment of Chairman and National Commissioners of the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) and Relevance or otherwise of Resident Electoral Commissioners of INEC in the States.
Strat.2 Amend both the constitution and the Electoral Act to:
Review the process of appointments into INEC, specifically to divest/minimize the involvement of the President in appointment of Chairman and National Commissioners of INEC:
Professionalize lower level administrative appointments, including headship of state offices of INEC.
Strat.3 Amend the Constitution to empower INEC to conduct LGA elections
Strat.4 Strengthen the Electoral Act to explicitly prohibit vote buying and vote selling
Strat.5 Proscribe cross-carpeting not only for members of the National Assembly but also for elected executives, governors and Chairmen of LGAs.
Strat.6 Empower INEC to prepare for elections to fill the vacancy once it has evidence of the act of cross-carpeting
Specific Legislative Actions
Strat.1 The House of Representatives, via its Constitution Review Committee, has begun the legislative process to amend constitutional provisions related to elections in order to implement comprehensive electoral reforms.
Strat.2 The House of Representatives through its committee on electoral matters is actively considering specific legislative actions aimed at reforming the appointment process of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and professionalizing its administrative structure
Strat.3 The 10th House of Representatives has initiated a constitutional amendment process to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct Local Government Area (LGA) elections across the country.
Strat.4 The House of Representatives has passed and the president assented the Electoral Act 2026 which specified fine of not less than N5,000,000 or imprisonment to a term of not less than two years or both, and non eligibility to stand for election in Nigeria for a period of at least 10 years for any one who buys or offers to buy, sells or offers to sell votes whether on his own behalf or on behalf of any other person ( Clause 22(c) of the Electoral Act 2026
(https://placng.org/i/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ElectoralAct2026.pdf)
Strat.5 As part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process, the House of Representatives is considering a bill to establish consequences for elected officials cross-carpeting (defecting) from the political party which they represent
Strat.6 The House of Representatives has included in the ongoing constitutional alteration a provision to empower INEC to prepare for elections to fill vacancies arising from acts of cross-carpeting by elected officials. However, INEC can only exercise this authority once the constitutional alteration bill is passed by the National Assembly and assented to by the President, thereby giving it the force of law.
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