Yesterday, the Senate emphasized the extensive changes included in the recently passed Electoral Act, 2026, characterizing it as a comprehensive framework intended to improve Nigeria’s electoral system’s accountability, transparency, and institutional autonomy.

In an announcement sent by his office’s Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele revealed the highlights.

Bamidele stated that the new law was the result of two years of intensive deliberations with development partners, civil society organizations (CSOs), the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (OAGF), and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In contrast to what some have implied, he clarified, the legislative process was inclusive and cooperative, including the opinions of all parties involved into the final text before sending it to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approval.

Within 24 hours after it was transmitted, Tinubu signed the Electoral Bill 2026 into law, concluding what lawmakers said was a two-year redrafting process meant to avoid constitutional ambiguities before the general election in 2027.

One of the main improvements, according to Bamidele, is the creation of a special fund for INEC under Section 3 of the Act, which is meant to ensure the commission’s operational stability, administrative continuity, and financial independence.

According to him, the law also requires that election funds be released at least half a year prior to general elections.

He underlined that the implementation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) or any other INEC-recommended technology is now required for voter accreditation under Section 47.

According to him, Section 60(3) mandates that election results be sent electronically to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and Section 60(6) stipulates that any presiding officer who willfully obstructs the electronic transmission of results faces a six-month jail sentence, a fine of ₦500,000, or both.

Nonetheless, he stated that in situations when communication failure has been demonstrated, the Act allows for the conditional use of Form EC8A for manual transmission.

Additionally, the law imposes severe penalties for electoral malfeasance. Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) are required by Section 74(1) to release certified true copies of documents within 24 hours after payment. Failure to do so may result in a minimum two-year prison sentence without the possibility of a fine.

“Vote buying, impersonation, and result manipulation are now punishable by up to two years in prison or fines of ₦500,000 to ₦2 million, or both, under Section 125,” Bamidele stated.

Bamidele claimed that the 2026 law essentially phases out indirect primaries by allowing only direct and consensus primaries, which is a significant change from the repealed 2022 Act.

Political parties are required by Section 77 to keep a digital membership record, provide membership cards, and submit the register to INEC at least 21 days before to primaries, congresses, or conventions, he said.

He also stated that a party will not be allowed to field candidates in the upcoming election if they do not comply.

In addition, the Act raises the campaign spending caps for all elected posts. The governorship limit climbed from ₦1 billion to ₦3 billion, and the presidential expenditure limitation was raised from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion. Positions in the National Assembly, state assemblies, and local governments were also adjusted.

Other noteworthy clauses, he said, include elements to improve diversity, such guidelines allowing gender-based queue separation in places where cultural customs demand it and assistance systems for people with visual impairments.

Nigeria’s electoral governance structure has been consolidated and improved, according to Bamidele, with the new Electoral Act.

He added that the Act places a strong emphasis on INEC’s operational and financial independence, technological integration with safeguards, greater regulation of political parties, and harsher penalties for violations. “The Act seeks to enhance electoral credibility, reduce disputes, and strengthen democratic governance in Nigeria,” he said.