Ignorance of the law would not excuse anyone from liability, noting that the Electoral Act provides the legal framework for the conduct of elections and the emergence of elected public officials in Nigeria
By Kehinde Emmanuel, Ilorin
Nigerians have been advised to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the amended Electoral Act 2026 to avoid sanctions arising from violations of the law.
The advice was given by the Head of the Legal Services Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Kwara State, Barrister Abdulfatai Atata, during a one-day seminar organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council.
The seminar, themed “Dissecting the Amended Electoral Act 2026: The Innovations and Their Implications,” brought together journalists and electoral stakeholders to examine key changes introduced in the new electoral law.
Atata stressed that ignorance of the law would not excuse anyone from liability, noting that the Electoral Act provides the legal framework for the conduct of elections and the emergence of elected public officials in Nigeria.
He explained that the amended law contains several innovations aimed at strengthening the country’s electoral process, including provisions requiring the timely release of election funds to enable the commission conduct credible polls and allow eligible voters to exercise their franchise.
According to him, the Act also streamlines acceptable means of identification for voter registration and election-related processes, including birth certificates, the National Identity Card and driver’s licences.
The INEC legal officer said Section 22 of the amended Act broadens the scope of electoral offences, adding that both buyers and sellers involved in vote trading are now liable to prosecution as a deterrent against electoral misconduct.
He further stated that the period for issuing notice of elections has been reduced to 300 days to improve administrative efficiency, while Section 28 also revises the timeline for the conduct of general elections.
On political party administration, Atata said Section 77 now makes it mandatory for political parties to maintain both digital and hard-copy membership registers to enhance transparency, improve access for relevant stakeholders and reduce intra-party disputes.
He also noted that the amended law reviews campaign finance limits for political parties and candidates, describing the move as an effort to curb excessive spending during elections.
Atata added that the Act formally provides for the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) or any other technology approved by INEC to improve transparency and minimise electoral malpractice.
He said the legislation also provides clear procedures for addressing technology failures during elections and that Section 128(1) seeks to reduce disputes arising from pre-election matters and electoral litigation.
The legal practitioner underscored the critical role of the media in promoting public understanding of the electoral process, urging journalists to educate citizens on the provisions of the amended law.
Also speaking, the Head of the Voter Education and Publicity Department of INEC in Kwara State, Dr. Adigun Peter, said electoral malpractice had historically involved several stakeholders, but noted that recent improvements in the commission’s electoral system were aimed at reducing such practices.
He observed that politicians increasingly resort to vote buying and appealed to journalists and other stakeholders to support INEC’s efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s electoral process.
Similarly, the Head of Public Affairs and Protocol of INEC in the state, Mr. Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said the new provisions reinforce the principle of “one person, one vote” and make vote buying less effective.
He expressed optimism that the reforms contained in the amended Electoral Act would significantly reduce electoral malpractice and strengthen the credibility of future elections.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the NUJ in Kwara State, Comrade Biola Azeez, said the seminar was organised to equip journalists with a better understanding of the provisions of the amended Electoral Act 2026.
He described members of the Correspondents’ Chapel as key players in information dissemination, noting that their extensive reach places them in a strategic position to educate the public on electoral reforms and promote informed participation in Nigeria’s democratic process.