In a significant development aimed at refining Nigeria's electoral framework ahead of future polls, the House of Representatives has rejected a proposed clause that would have criminalized the financial or material inducement of delegates during political party primaries, congresses, and conventions. The decision came during a clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the plenary session presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu.
The rejected provision, outlined in Clause 89(4) of the amendment report, stated: “A person that financially or materially induces a delegate for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the party primaries, congresses and conventions commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment of two years without an option of fine.” When put to a voice vote by the presiding officer, lawmakers unanimously opposed it, effectively deleting the clause from the bill.
This rejection highlights the persistent challenge of delegate inducement—commonly referred to as "vote-buying" in primaries—a practice deeply entrenched in Nigeria's delegate-based system for selecting party candidates. Under this system, a relatively small group of party delegates holds disproportionate power in determining nominees, often leading to allegations of cash payments, gifts, or other incentives to sway votes. Critics argue that such practices undermine internal party democracy and favor wealthy aspirants, but lawmakers expressed concerns that criminalizing it could create opportunities for political entrapment or harassment by rivals.
While the House turned down this measure, it demonstrated a strong commitment to combating other forms of electoral malpractice by approving tougher penalties for offences related to ballot papers, result forms, and election materials. The approved provisions target unauthorized printing, possession, or manipulation of electoral documents, imposing severe sanctions to deter fraud.
Specifically, offenders who, without lawful authority, print ballot papers or items resembling them, exceed the quantity authorized by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), or possess ballot papers or result forms during ongoing voting without justification, face stringent punishment. Additionally, those involved in manufacturing, importing, supplying, or using devices that enable secret insertion, diversion, or manipulation of ballot papers or results will be liable on conviction to a fine of up to ₦75 million, a minimum 10-year prison term, or both.
These enhancements build on existing provisions in the Electoral Act 2022, increasing the fine from ₦50 million in some cases and emphasizing deterrence against forgery and tampering. The amendments also address over-voting rules, voter registration abuses, and other loopholes exposed in recent elections.
The broader context of these deliberations reflects the House's cautious approach to electoral reform. Initially introduced as a bill to repeal and reenact the Electoral Act 2022, the proposal evolved into targeted amendments after extensive consultations with INEC, security agencies, civil society, political parties, and stakeholders revealed insufficient consensus for a full overhaul. Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, explained post-plenary that retaining the 2022 Act's core structure while closing gaps ensures stability and progressive improvement.
Other notable approvals in the amendment bill include mandating real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results to INEC's IReV portal, solidifying the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) as the primary accreditation tool, and raising campaign spending limits (e.g., presidential campaigns from ₦5 billion to ₦10 billion). Stiffer penalties were also endorsed for general vote-buying during elections, with offenders risking minimum two-year imprisonment, ₦5 million fines, or both, plus potential disqualification from contests.
The rejection of the delegate inducement clause has sparked mixed reactions. Proponents of reform argue it misses an opportunity to sanitize intra-party processes, potentially perpetuating "money politics" that cascades into general elections. However, supporters within the House view it as pragmatic, avoiding provisions that could be weaponized in Nigeria's highly contentious political environment.
As the bill advances—having passed third reading in some reports—these amendments signal the legislature's intent to bolster electoral integrity without destabilizing the system. The final version awaits harmonization with the Senate and presidential assent, potentially shaping the landscape for the 2027 general elections.
This episode underscores the delicate balance in Nigeria's electoral reforms: strengthening safeguards against fraud while navigating the realities of political practice. With delegate inducement remaining uncriminalized at the primary level, attention may shift to party self-regulation or future legislative efforts to address internal democracy.
