Nigeria’s House of Representatives has commenced reviewing a new Electoral Act on Wednesday, aimed at shaping the conduct of the 2027 elections.
The session was lively, with frequent interruptions as multiple lawmakers attempted to speak simultaneously, leading to repeated calls of “point of order.”
Lawmakers initially debated which sections of the bill should be prioritized, eventually agreeing to focus on areas recommended by the House Committee on Electoral Matters. Among the key decisions, the House approved that all pre-election disputes should be handled exclusively by the Federal High Court in the state where the dispute arises. This amendment is intended to prevent cases from being filed outside their proper jurisdiction, such as in the Federal Capital Territory or other states.
Another contentious proposal under consideration would disqualify any candidate found to have provided false information regarding constitutional eligibility, along with the candidate’s political party. This sparked intense debate. Some lawmakers argued that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should instead conduct a fresh election excluding the affected candidate and party, while others maintained that the provision would encourage political parties to carry out proper due diligence before presenting candidates.
The House also approved stricter penalties for electoral offences, including:
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A five-year jail term for returning officers who declare false election results
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A ten-year jail term for returning officers who announce results without recording them in the prescribed form
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A two-year jail term for Resident Electoral Commissioners who fail to release Certified True Copies of election results
Consideration of the bill was adjourned and is set to continue on Thursday, as lawmakers prepare to finalize discussions on the remaining provisions.
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