Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill

What Is This Bill?

The Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026 is Nigeria's comprehensive legislative framework to reform and modernise the country's electoral process. It repeals the Electoral Act, 2022 and re-enacts a revised law that regulates the conduct of Federal, State, and Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory, with updated provisions on election timelines, voter accreditation technology, result transmission, and electoral offences aimed at improving the integrity, efficiency, and credibility of Nigeria's elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Who Does It Target?

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the primary regulatory and administrative body Political parties and their candidates contesting Federal, State, and FCT Area Council elections Registered voters and eligible Nigerian citizens exercising their franchise Presiding officers, polling agents, and other election officials Electoral tribunals and courts adjudicating election disputes Civil society organisations and election observers

What Does It Aim to Achieve?

Reform electoral administration to improve efficiency, transparency, and public confidence in Nigeria's electoral process Update technology provisions to reflect the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation and voting Revise administrative timelines to enable INEC to prepare more effectively for general and off-cycle elections Strengthen penalties for electoral offences, including the buying and selling of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) Consolidate and modernise the legal framework for conducting elections ahead of the 2027 general elections

Key Features

Technology Upgrade (BVAS): The Bill formally replaces references to 'smart card readers' with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as the official tool for voter accreditation and voting enshrining already-deployed technology in statute. Revised Election Timelines: Notice of election period reduced from 360 days to 180 days before election date (Clause 28); submission of candidate lists reduced from 180 days to 90 days before general elections (Clause 29), allowing INEC greater operational flexibility. Permanent Voter Card (PVC) Retained as Sole ID: Electronically generated voter identification was rejected; the PVC remains the only mandatory means of identification at polling units. Result Transmission Discretionary: Mandatory real-time electronic transmission of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IREV) portal was rejected; INEC retains discretion to prescribe the manner of transmitting results and accreditation data. Increased PVC Offence Fines: The fine for buying and selling of PVCs increased from N2 million to N5 million, while the existing two-year imprisonment term was retained; a proposed 10-year sentence was rejected (Clause 22). Clause 142 Struck Out: The provision that would have allowed parties to prove non-compliance using only documentary evidence (without oral evidence) was removed to avoid procedural abuse. Ballot Paper Inspection Retained: INEC must invite political parties to inspect their identity on sample electoral materials at least 20 days before an election; parties have two days to submit written approval or objection.

Current Status

Rollout Stage: Passed by the Senate on February 4, 2026, following clause-by-clause consideration of all 155 clauses. A 12-member Conference Committee (chaired by Senator Sani Solomon Lalang) has been constituted to harmonise the Senate and House of Representatives versions before transmission to the President. Next Steps: The Senate and House of Representatives must reconcile their respective versions; the harmonised bill will then be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent. 2027 Elections Preparedness: INEC has confirmed readiness for the 2027 general elections and has concluded its timetable and schedule of activities, pending enactment of the revised law. BVAS Deployment: The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was first deployed in 2021 by-elections and used in the 2023 general elections; this Bill codifies its use in statute. IREV Portal: The INEC Result Viewing portal remains operational for result transparency, though real-time mandatory upload was not enshrined in this Bill.

How to Access

Political Parties & Candidates: Comply with revised candidate submission timelines (90 days before general elections) and updated INEC nomination procedures under the new Act upon assent. Voters: Continue to obtain and retain PVCs as the sole mandatory voter identification; present PVC for BVAS-based accreditation at polling units. INEC Officials: Implement the 180-day election notice timeline; follow updated procedures for accreditation using BVAS and ballot inspection protocols. Civil Society & Observers: Engage with INEC's result transmission and IREV portal framework; monitor Conference Committee harmonisation proceedings. Contact: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): inecnigeria.org | National Assembly: nass.gov.ng | PLAC Bills Tracker: placbillstrack.org

Important Terms

BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System): INEC's electronic accreditation device that verifies voters using fingerprint and facial recognition; replaces smart card readers under this Bill. IREV Portal: INEC's online platform for viewing polling unit results in near real-time; use remains at INEC's discretion rather than mandatory upload. PVC (Permanent Voter Card): The biometric voter identity card issued by INEC; remains the sole mandatory means of voter identification at polling units. Notice of Election: Formal public notice issued by INEC announcing the election date and nomination venues; now reduced to 180 days before the election. Conference Committee: A joint committee of Senate and House of Representatives members set up to reconcile differences between the two chambers' versions of a bill before presidential assent.

Impact & Metrics

The Bill governs 155 clauses regulating elections across Nigeria's 36 States, the FCT, and all federal constituencies. Voter registration: Nigeria's registered voter population exceeded 93 million as of the 2023 general elections. BVAS was used to accredit over 87 million registered voters in the 2023 elections across approximately 176,000 polling units. The 2027 general elections will be the first conducted under the revised Act upon presidential assent. PVC offence fines increased by 150% — from N2 million to N5 million to deter electoral bribery.

Official Resources

Website: inecnigeria.org | nass.gov.ng | placbillstrack.org Bill: Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026 available via PLAC Bills Track and the National Assembly Contact: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Plot 436 Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja | National Assembly, Three Arms Zone, Abuja Summary prepared using the Policy Summary Template | Source: Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026, NALTF, Daily Post Nigeria, PLAC, INEC | March 2026

Legal Framework

The Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill 2026 operates under the Electoral Act 2022 (being repealed and re-enacted) and the 1999 Constitution (Sections 77–79 and 132–134 on elections). It aligns with the Independent National Electoral Commission (Establishment) Act, the Constitution (Fifth Alteration) Acts 2023 on electoral reforms, and the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance. The Voter Registration and Election Technology frameworks provide operational context.