The national assembly is considering major amendments to the Electoral Act 2022 ahead of the 2027 general election, with proposals that could transform how Nigerians vote.

The suggested changes include compulsory electronic voting, mandatory electronic transmission of results, early voting for security and essential workers, and the option to replace the permanent voter card (PVC) with other forms of identification such as the national identification number (NIN) or international passport.

These proposals were presented during a public hearing organised by the joint committee on electoral matters on Monday. Lawmakers are also proposing that the 2027 general elections be moved to November 2026 — six months before the May 29 handover date — to ensure that all election petitions are resolved before inauguration.

According to legislators, the goal of the reform is to modernise Nigeria’s electoral process, enhance transparency, and eliminate irregularities that have long undermined public confidence in elections.

PVC may no longer be compulsory

The amendment seeks to revise Sections 18 and 47 of the current law to make the use of PVCs optional. The proposed change argues that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) does not utilise the microchip embedded in the PVC, and therefore the card should not remain the only recognised form of voter identification.

“The use of Permanent Voter Card (PVC) will not be compulsory, since the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) does not recognise the microchip in the PVC,” the document reads.

“Every registered voter will be able to download and print their voter’s card whenever needed. This totally eradicates the issue of buying and selling PVCs, likewise all related offences.”

Under the new proposal, eligible identification for voters will include the National Identification Number (NIN), international passport, or birth certificate.

BVAS, PVC challenges

Since its introduction, the BVAS system has faced issues such as biometric authentication failures, weak battery capacity, and poor internet connectivity — particularly in rural areas.

The 2023 general elections were characterised by complaints over delayed result uploads to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) and widespread disenfranchisement due to missing PVCs or malfunctioning devices.

Opposition parties and observers also accused the electoral umpire of result manipulation, pointing to discrepancies between results announced at polling units and those uploaded online.

Push for electronic transmission of results

To address these concerns, lawmakers are proposing to amend Section 60(5) of the Electoral Act to make electronic transmission of results mandatory.

“The presiding officer shall transmit the results, including the total number of accredited voters, to the next level of collation both electronically and manually,” the amendment states.

Proponents believe this reform will strengthen transparency and minimise post-election disputes.

Akin Akingbolu, who represented Yiaga Africa on behalf of civil society organisations, urged lawmakers to extend the provision to include compulsory electronic voting.

“Strengthening the Electoral Act to make electronic transmission of results mandatory, including the upload of polling unit-level results and results sheets, will deepen the credibility of electoral outcomes and ensure votes count,” he said.

Early voting for essential workers

A new clause under Section 2 of the bill introduces early voting for specific categories of voters — including security operatives, INEC officials, accredited observers, journalists, and ad hoc staff — who are typically deployed on election duty.

These groups will be allowed to vote up to 14 days before the main election day to ensure they are not disenfranchised while performing official responsibilities.

Stiffer penalties for electoral offences

The bill also proposes stricter punishment for electoral misconduct, recommending a one-year jail term or a fine of ₦1 million — or both — for any presiding or collation officer who issues unstamped or unsigned ballot papers or result sheets.

“A presiding officer or collation officer who distributes or causes to be distributed any ballot paper or results sheet not duly stamped and signed commits an offence liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year or to a fine not less than ₦1,000,000 or both,” the amendment reads.

A comprehensive electoral overhaul

The proposals are part of the Electoral Act 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2025 (SB. 903), which seeks to repeal and replace the existing law.

It also introduces provisions for diaspora voting, the creation of an Electoral Offences Commission, and enhanced independence for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Lawmakers say the overall aim is to rebuild public trust, modernise the electoral process, and ensure that every vote counts in future elections.

Earlier this month, Enyinnaya Abaribe, senator representing Abia South, noted that Nigeria’s judiciary had failed to keep pace with the technological advancements introduced by the electoral commission.

Abaribe argued that the challenge with Nigeria’s elections lies not in technology, but in the interpretation of laws by the courts.

• declares support for Tinubu

Former federal lawmaker, Ben Murray-Bruce, who represented Bayelsa East Senatorial District, has announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Murray-Bruce made the announcement on Wednesday in a personally signed statement posted on his Facebook page.

In the statement, he commended the administration of President Bola Tinubu, describing him as the first leader in Nigeria’s history “who truly understands finance, who sees the economy not as a political slogan, but as a living organism that must be disciplined, deregulated, and allowed to breathe.”

The former senator expressed strong confidence in Tinubu’s ongoing economic reforms, saying they lay the foundation for Nigeria’s future prosperity.

Murray-Bruce, who said he had known Tinubu since 1998, praised the President’s courage, intellect, and results-driven approach to leadership.

“I have known President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu since 1998. I know the man’s mind, his courage, and his conviction. He is not driven by applause; he is driven by results. And today, I can boldly say to you that he is on the right track,” he said.

Highlighting recent government efforts, he noted that the administration had taken steps to stabilize the economy, strengthen the naira, and restore investor confidence through professional management at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Murray-Bruce also commended Tinubu’s national security reforms, stating that the appointment of the National Security Adviser had “significantly improved Nigeria’s safety architecture” and that insecurity was being “quietly and systematically dismantled.”

He further emphasized that the painful reforms being implemented were necessary for long-term growth, saying: “The painful reforms we face today are the very foundation of tomorrow’s prosperity. We are moving into a free-market economy, one that rewards hard work and innovation instead of dependency and distortion.”

The former senator pointed to progress in various sectors, including the deregulation of fuel supply, the professional restructuring of the CBN, and infrastructural developments under Tinubu’s administration.

“Our foreign policy is again respected. Our fuel supply is deregulated. We will never again live through the humiliation of fuel scarcity. The numbers are beginning to speak, investments are returning, and the world is watching Nigeria rise again,” he said.

Murray-Bruce described Tinubu’s infrastructure push as “unprecedented,” noting that massive road projects, modernized ports, airports, and new housing schemes were transforming the country.

He acknowledged that the reforms had come with hardship but maintained that such sacrifice was vital for national renewal.

“I know it is still a difficult season for many families. But as history teaches, reform is never painless. Yet, it is in these moments of sacrifice that nations are reborn,” he said.

Announcing his decision to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), Murray-Bruce said his move was not about politics but about supporting progress.

“That is why today, I am joining the All Progressives Congress (APC), not for politics, but for progress. Because I believe that Bola Tinubu’s leadership, guided by courage and intellect, will deliver the Nigeria we have all dreamed of,” he stated.

Concluding his message, he expressed optimism about Nigeria’s future under Tinubu, declaring: “Mark my words: in the full term of eight years, Nigeria will witness phenomenal growth. I choose to stand with that vision. I choose to stand with reform. I choose to stand with the future. Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The development was announced in a Facebook post by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, on Wednesday.

According to Alabrah, the governor’s resignation came alongside that of the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Abraham Ingobere, and all PDP members of the state legislature.

Diri’s exit ends months of speculation over his alleged plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC), although Alabrah did not confirm which political party the governor intends to join next.

It was gathered that Diri made the announcement during the weekly State Executive Council meeting held inside Government House, Yenagoa, and has already submitted his resignation letter to the PDP.

It is also believed that all members of the State Executive Council resigned in solidarity with the governor.

When contacted, Alabrah declined comments, saying, “I cannot talk now.”
Efforts to reach the state PDP chairman, Solomon Agwanana, were unsuccessful as his calls went unanswered.

More to come…