The approval followed the consideration of provisions in an electoral reform bill designed to curb malpractice and restore public confidence in elections. Lawmakers said the stiffer sanctions would serve as a strong deterrent against acts such as falsification of election documents, manipulation of results, and other related offences.
Explaining the legislative choices behind the changes, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, said the Electoral Bill 2025 was initially conceived as a wholesale replacement of the Electoral Act 2022.
According to him, the proposal was driven by the desire to consolidate gains from recent elections and address emerging challenges within Nigeria electoral system.
"The committee, guided by stakeholder engagements, public hearings and expert submissions, initially proposed far-reaching reforms aimed at modernising the electoral framework,” Balogun said.
According to the House, weak punishments in the past have contributed to repeated violations of electoral laws, undermining the credibility of elections. Members stressed that credible elections are vital to national stability, good governance, and democratic development.
The bill is expected to create a stronger legal framework for prosecuting electoral offenders once it is fully passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by the President.
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