Vote Buyers, Sellers Risk 2-Year Jail Term, N5m Fine Under New Electoral Act
The House of Representatives has introduced stiffer penalties for vote buying and selling with the new amendments to the Electoral Act.
Some of the approved amendments include a minimum of two years’ imprisonment or a N5 million fine, or both, alongside a 10-year ban from contesting elections.
The House reached this resolution during the clause-by-clause consideration of the report of the Committee on Electoral Matters at the Committee of the Whole, presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu.
According to the amended Clause 22 (a and c), individuals involved in the buying or selling of votes and voter cards now face significantly tougher sanctions than previously provided, where penalties were capped at N500,000 or a maximum of two years’ imprisonment.
The green chamber further amended the sanctions for presiding officers who deliberately breach procedures on counting, announcement, and transmission of polling unit results.
A new Section 60(6) prescribes a minimum fine of N500,000 or at least six months’ imprisonment, or both, for any presiding officer who willfully contravenes the provisions.
The House also approved a clause mandating the release of election funds to INEC at least one year before a general election, in a bid to enhance early planning and efficient conduct of polls.
To curb electoral fraud, lawmakers increased penalties for multiple voter registration.
Under the amended Clause 12(3), offenders now risk a minimum fine of N100,000 or at least one year’s imprisonment, or both.
Addressing newsmen after the consideration, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balongun, said that the House has shelved plans to repeal the Electoral Act 2022, resolving instead to pursue targeted amendments after far-reaching reform proposals failed to secure broad consensus among lawmakers and key stakeholders.
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