…endorse e-transmission of election results
House of Representatives, on Friday, raised campaign spending limits for candidates contesting elective offices, shooting up the maximum presidential campaign expenditure from N5 billion to N10 billion; and governorship’s, from N1 billion to N3 billion.
The lawmakera also passed an amendment mandating the real-time electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
These were part of the passage of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, following clause-by-clause consideration of the report of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Adebayo Balogun.
Under the approved Clause 93(2), spending limits for National Assembly candidates were also increased, with senatorial candidates now allowed to spend up to N500 million, up from N100 million; and House of Representatives candidates, N250 million from the previous N70 million.
For state constituencies, the campaign expense ceiling was raised from N30 million to N100 million; chairmanship candidates, from N30 million to N60 million; councillorship candidates, N10 million from N5 million.
The House also approved a provision restricting individual or corporate donations to a maximum of N500 million per candidate.
The House approved a proposal mandating the real-time electronic transmission of election results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the IRev portal.
The approved clause 60(3) states that the “Presiding officer shall electronically transmit the results from each polling unit to the IREV portal in real time, and such transmission shall be done after the prescribed form EC8A has been signed and stamped by the presiding officer and/or countersigned by the candidates or polling unit agents, where available at the polling unit”.
The existing law does not mandate that the INEC transmit election results in real time.
Before the 2023 general elections, the INEC had promised that the results would be transmitted in real time.
The IReV portal was part of the technologies introduced by the INEC to ensure transparency and improve the integrity of the electoral process.
But the portal remained inactive for an extended period following glitches, even after voting was concluded at some polling units, prompting suspicion from many Nigerians.
The House also ratified a clause that would make the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) the primary accreditation tool during election.
The approved clause 47(2) reads: “To vote, the presiding officer shall use a bimodal voter accreditation system or any other technological device that may be prescribed by the commission for the accreditation of voters to verify, confirm or authenticate the particulars of the intending voter in the manner prescribed by the commission.
“Where a bimodal voter accreditation system or any other technological device deployed for accreditation of voters fails to function in any unit and a fresh BVAS or technological device is not deployed, the election in that unit shall be cancelled and another election shall be scheduled within 24 hours if the commission is satisfied that the result of the election in that polling unit will substantially affect the final result of the whole election and declaration of a winner in the constituency concerned.”
The lawmakers also approved far-reaching amendments to the Electoral Act, introducing stiffer penalties for vote buying and selling, including a minimum of two years’ imprisonment or a N5 million fine, or both, alongside a 10-year ban from contesting elections.
Under the amended Clause 22 (a and c), individuals involved in the buying or selling of votes and voter cards now face significantly tougher sanctions than previously provided, where penalties were capped at N500,000 or a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.
Lawmakers further amended the sanctions for presiding officers who deliberately breach procedures on counting, announcement, and transmission of polling unit results. A new Section 60(6) prescribes a minimum fine of N500,000 or at least six months’ imprisonment, or both, for any presiding officer who willfully contravenes the provisions.
The House also approved a clause mandating the release of election funds to INEC at least one year before a general election, in a bid to enhance early planning and efficient conduct of polls.
To curb electoral fraud, lawmakers increased penalties for multiple voter registration. Under the amended Clause 12(3), offenders now risk a minimum fine of N100,000 or at least one year’s imprisonment, or both.
Lawmakers also approved an amendment introducing a five-year jail term for presiding officers found guilty of declaring false results.
In another adjustment, the House extended the deadline for political parties to submit their list of candidates to INEC from 180 days to 210 days before an election, allowing the commission more time for processing.
The House further approved provisions allowing the use of electronically generated voter identification, including downloadable voter cards with unique QR codes, or any other identification prescribed by INEC, for voter accreditation and voting.
But the lawmakers rejected a clause seeking to penalise inducements of delegates during primaries, congresses and conventions.
Clause 89(4) proposed that “A person that financially or materially induces a delegate for the purpose of influencing the outcome of party primaries, congresses and conventions commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment to a term of two years without an option of fine.”
However, lawmakers during the consideration of the clause raised concerns over the proposal, saying, it could be an entrapment for them.
They subsequently rejected the clause and asked that it should be deleted.
