NASS UNVEILS TWO-YEAR JAIL TERM FOR ERRING INEC RECs
The National Assembly of Nigeria has unveiled sweeping reforms in the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2026, including a two-year jail term for any Resident Electoral Commissioner who withholds critical electoral documents and the establishment of a dedicated fund to guarantee the financial autonomy of the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2027 general election.
The reforms, which followed two years of legislative consultations and stakeholder engagement, were outlined on Sunday by the Leader of the Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele, in a statement issued in Abuja.
Bamidele’s clarification comes less than 24 hours after opposition parties criticised aspects of the 2026 Act, particularly provisions relating to party primaries, campaign financing and election timelines, alleging that they favour the ruling All Progressives Congress.
While the Presidency and the APC have defended the amendments as necessary steps to strengthen electoral integrity and deepen democracy, opposition figures argue that the changes could weaken political competition.
However, the Senate leader maintained that many Nigerians were overlooking key benefits embedded in the new law.
He stated that the revised electoral framework mandates INEC to deploy the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System, establishes an electronic register of voters, reviews campaign spending limits for various elective offices, and prescribes a two-year prison term for any Resident Electoral Commissioner found guilty of withholding essential electoral materials.
The Electoral Bill 2026 was harmonised by both chambers of the National Assembly, particularly over the contentious Clause 60(3), before being transmitted to Bola Tinubu for assent to prevent any constitutional crisis in the lead-up to the next general election.
President Tinubu signed the bill into law within 24 hours of its passage, concluding what lawmakers described as a painstaking two-year effort to reform Nigeria’s electoral framework.
Although some civil society organisations questioned the speed of the presidential assent, the Senate leadership insisted that the process was inclusive and exhaustive.
According to Bamidele, the new electoral regime reflects broad-based input from key stakeholders. He noted that the National Assembly collaborated with the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, civil society organisations, INEC and development partners throughout the drafting process.
