Israel Oluyemi
The National Assembly has proposed a new set of electoral reforms aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy and ensuring a smoother transition of power.
This was made through the House Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Rep. Adebayo Balogun.
Balogun said lawmakers wanted all election cases concluded before the swearing-in of declared winners.
He explained that the proposal also recommended holding elections six months before the expiration of an incumbent’s tenure to allow enough time for disputes to be resolved.
He said the reform aimed to ensure fairness, credibility, and stability in the electoral process.
“To ensure that all manner of election litigations are dispensed with before the swearing-in of winners, we are proposing an amendment that will reduce 180 days of tribunal judgment to 90 days, and the 90 days expected of judgment by the Appellate Court to 60 days, which will all not exceed 185 days”, he added.
The proposal came during a one-day public hearing at the National Assembly on the repeal of the 2022 Electoral Act and the enactment of the 2025 Electoral Act.
The presentation took place at the end of the hearing, which gathered key stakeholders, including representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who reviewed and supported the proposed reforms.
Lawmakers outlined a series of amendments to the Constitution and the Electoral Act to achieve the proposed changes.
The plan sought to move election timelines from the Constitution to the Electoral Act, introduce NIN-based voter registration, early and inmate voting, and enforce the mandatory electronic transmission of results.
The draft also proposed penalties for electoral officers who distributed unstamped ballot papers or result sheets, with offenders facing either one year in jail or a fine of ₦1 million.
Balogun said the reforms reflected the National Assembly’s commitment to building a transparent, inclusive, and credible electoral system where all disputes would be resolved before newly elected leaders take office.