The House of Representatives has approved stiffer penalties for electoral offences, including a 10-year jail term or a fine of ₦75 million for individuals found guilty of forgery of election documents.
The decision was taken during the clause-by-clause consideration of amendments to the Electoral Act, as lawmakers moved to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process and deter manipulation of election outcomes.
Under the approved amendment, offences such as forging nomination papers, falsifying election results, or destroying or defacing result sheets will attract the heavy penalty. The new fine represents an increase from the existing ₦50 million stipulated in the current Electoral Act.
The House also approved a ₦5 million fine for the improper use of a voter’s card, while rejecting a proposal that sought to criminalise the influencing of delegates during party primaries, citing concerns over possible abuse.
In another significant change, lawmakers scrapped the provision that mandates automatic cancellation of results in polling units where over-voting occurs. Instead, the House approved a system of proportional deduction of excess votes across all candidates, while holding the presiding officer criminally liable for such infractions.
Lawmakers said the amendments are aimed at enhancing electoral integrity, accountability, and public confidence in the democratic process, especially ahead of future general elections.
The proposed amendments will still undergo further legislative procedures, including concurrence by the Senate and presidential assent, before becoming law.
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