The leader of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Michael Bamidele, has said the national assembly had proposed tougher penalties for vote buying and other electoral offences ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued on Monday to mark the resumption of plenary by the 10th national assembly, the senate leader said the proposals are contained in the electoral bill, 2025, currently under consideration by the legislature.
“With respect to vote buying, the sanctions range from a fine of N5 million to a two-year imprisonment and a 10-year ban from contesting elections,” the statement read.
He said the bill also recommends mandatory jail terms and higher fines for offences such as result falsification and obstruction of election officials.
Bamidele said the provisions are aimed at eliminating impunity and strengthening the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Bamidele said the proposed law introduces electronically generated voter identification, including a downloadable voter card with a unique QR code.
He added that the bill mandates presiding officers to transmit polling unit results electronically, including the total number of accredited voters.
The senate leader said the legislation also standardises delegates for indirect primaries to prevent party leaders from unilaterally determining delegate criteria.
Related
