The House of Representatives has initiated a landmark legislative proposal aimed at overhauling Nigeria’s electoral framework through the introduction of the Electoral Act 2025.
If enacted, the bill will usher in comprehensive reforms that significantly alter how elections are conducted across the country.
A key highlight of the proposed legislation is the unification of Nigeria’s five major elections—the presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship, and State House of Assembly—into a single-day event.
This move, if passed into law, would mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct all these elections simultaneously in the 2027 general election. This proposal is expected to reduce election costs, streamline logistics, and minimise voter fatigue.
The bill is sponsored by Hon. Bayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters. Having successfully passed its second reading in the House, it seeks to repeal the current Electoral Act No. 13 of 2022. The proposed law aims to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s electoral processes.
Among its major provisions, the bill proposes a new administrative fee of N50 million for any political association seeking registration as a political party. It also sets stringent campaign spending limits: N10 billion for presidential candidates and N3 billion for governorship aspirants. The aim is to reduce financial influence and ensure a level playing field for all contestants.
In a bid to further sanitise campaign funding, the bill prohibits donations exceeding N500 million from any individual or organisation. It also criminalises the submission of false affidavits or misrepresentations by candidates, with penalties including fines of up to N10 million or imprisonment, thereby enhancing candidate accountability.
The proposed legislation outlines precise timelines for both election and legal processes. General elections must be conducted not earlier than 210 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the incumbent’s tenure.
All election petitions must be resolved within 90 days from the date of filing, ensuring timely justice and eliminating prolonged litigations.
Pre-election suits must be instituted within 14 days of the contested action, while election petitions must be filed within 21 days of result declaration. Appeals arising from these matters are to be concluded within 60 days. Notably, the bill bars any court from halting the conduct of elections due to ongoing litigation, thus ensuring electoral timelines remain sacrosanct.
To curb the incessant conduct of costly by-elections, the bill empowers political parties to nominate replacements when a sitting lawmaker resigns or dies. INEC will be mandated to issue certificates of return to such replacements without conducting a fresh election, provided the nomination is submitted within 60 days and complies with legal procedures.
On the use of electoral technology, the bill retains the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter verification. However, it relaxes the requirement for a permanent voter card, allowing voters to present a downloadable digital voter ID containing a QR code or other recognised forms of identification.
Furthermore, election results are to be transmitted both manually and electronically from polling units to collation centres. Electoral officers who fail to comply with this requirement face penalties, including a minimum fine of N500,000 or six months imprisonment. In cases of disputes during collation, original result sheets and accreditation records will serve as the basis for resolution.
To strengthen internal party democracy, the bill mandates that political parties submit their membership registers to INEC at least 30 days before primary elections. Any register not duly submitted will be invalid. Additionally, political appointees are barred from voting or being voted for as delegates at party conventions.
The bill also permits candidates to challenge their opponents’ submission of false information in sworn affidavits. If the court finds that a candidate or their sponsoring party failed to meet constitutional requirements, both stand to be disqualified.
To discourage frivolous and baseless election litigation, the bill allows for penalties up to N10 million against petitioners and their legal representatives if a petition is determined to be outside the recognised legal grounds for challenging an election.
Under the proposed reforms, courts will be prohibited from declaring any candidate as winner of an election if the individual did not fully participate in all mandatory stages of the election process. In addition, the bill provides exemptions to legal timeline computations in cases of national emergencies, disasters, or wartime conditions.
Special voting arrangements will also be introduced under the new law. INEC will be required to facilitate early voting for security personnel, electoral officials, accredited observers, journalists, and ad-hoc staff involved in election day operations. This provision ensures that these critical stakeholders are not disenfranchised.
The proposed Electoral Act 2025 stands as one of the most ambitious and comprehensive electoral reform efforts in Nigeria’s recent history. With its far-reaching implications for the conduct of elections, campaign financing, party discipline, and judicial timelines, the bill signals a strong legislative intent to enhance transparency, efficiency, and inclusiveness in the democratic process.