Resident Electoral Commissioners who fail to release vital election documents may now face up to two years in prison under the newly signed Electoral Act, 2026.
The amendment is part of wider changes introduced by the National Assembly to reshape Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general election.
The reforms were disclosed in Abuja by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, after weeks of public debate over the contents of the new law.
Under the new provisions, any Resident Electoral Commissioner who fails to provide a certified true copy of requested electoral documents within 24 hours after payment risks a minimum of two years in prison without the option of a fine.
In addition, where INEC fails to issue a certificate of return to a candidate declared winner by a court, a certified true copy of the court order will now be enough for swearing-in.
The Act also increases penalties for electoral offences such as vote-buying, impersonation and manipulation of results. Offenders may face two years in prison or fines ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦2m, depending on the offence.
The law also makes it compulsory for election results to be transmitted electronically to the INEC Result Viewing Portal.
Any presiding officer who deliberately blocks or refuses to carry out electronic transmission could face six months in prison, a fine of ₦500,000, or both upon conviction.
However, the law allows the use of manual forms where electronic transmission fails due to network or communication problems, in line with INEC guidelines.
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