The Nigerian Senate has passed the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, regulating federal, state, and Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified that the Senate retained Clause 60, which provides for electronic transmission of results, contrary to social media reports suggesting it was rejected ¹ ² ³.

Akpabio emphasized that electronic transmission has always been part of the law and was used in 2022. The Senate also amended Clause 22(C) to increase penalties for buying and selling voter cards, with fines of up to N5 million or two years’ imprisonment. Other changes include reducing the notice of election from 360 days to 180 days and submission of candidate lists from 180 days to 90 days before elections ⁴ ⁵.

A Conference Committee, chaired by Sen. Niyi Adegbonmire, will harmonize the bill with the House of Representatives’ version before sending it to President Bola Tinubu for assent.