Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2010
Act · Governance
Policy date: 2011-01-01
An Act that amends the Electoral Act to update procedures for voter registration, party primaries, and election timelines. It targets INEC, political parties, candidates, and voters to enhance the credibility of elections. This improves the legal framework and strengthens INEC's capacity.
Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2010
What Is This Policy?
An amendment to the Electoral Act that introduced changes to electoral procedures including modifications to voter registration, party primaries, election timelines, and the powers of INEC, aimed at improving the credibility of elections.
Who Does It Target?
INEC and its operations Political parties conducting primaries and campaigns Nigerian voters Election observers and monitors
What Does It Aim to Achieve?
Improve the legal framework for elections in Nigeria by addressing gaps identified during previous electoral cycles, strengthening INEC's capacity, and enhancing transparency in the electoral process.
Key Features
Voter Registration: Updated provisions for continuous voter registration Election Timeline: Fixed timelines for INEC to publish election notices and for parties to conclude primaries Campaign Finance: Spending limits and disclosure requirements for candidates and parties Results Collation: Procedures for collating and announcing election results Electoral Offences: Updated penalties for electoral fraud and malpractice
Current Status
Rollout Stage: Applied to elections from 2011 onward; subsequently superseded by the Electoral Act 2022 Coverage: All federal, state, and local government elections Lead Agency: INEC Successor: The Electoral Act 2022 now governs Nigerian elections
How to Access
The Act is a public law. Access through the Official Gazette and legal databases The current governing law is the Electoral Act 2022
Official Resources
Website: inecnigeria.org Contact: INEC Headquarters, Abuja
Legal Framework
The Electoral (Amendment) Act 2010 operates under the Electoral Act 2006 (as amended) and the 1999 Constitution (Sections 77–78 and 132–133 on federal elections). It aligns with the Independent National Electoral Commission (Establishment) Act and the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. The Act was enacted ahead of the 2011 general elections to address electoral process reforms.