Electoral Act: Senate rejects 10-year Jail term for PVC trading, shortens election notice to 180 days, adopts BVAS for accreditation

The Senate has voted down a proposal to impose a 10-year prison term on individuals who buy or sell Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), keeping the existing two-year sentence while raising the fine from ₦2 million to ₦5 million under Clause 22 of the Electoral Amendment Bill.

The decision came during clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, where lawmakers also revised several timelines tied to the conduct of elections.

Under Clause 28, the Senate cut the notice period for elections from 360 days to 180 days before polling. Clause 29 shortens the deadline for political parties to submit candidates’ lists and supporting affidavits from 180 days to 90 days before a general election. The clause also requires that all nominees must emerge through valid party primaries.

Lawmakers retained provisions in Clause 44 on ballot paper design, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to invite political parties at least 20 days before an election to inspect samples of electoral materials. Parties will have two days to confirm or dispute how their identities appear.

In Clause 47, the Senate replaced smart card readers with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for voter accreditation and voting. However, it rejected electronically generated voter identification and maintained the PVC as the required means of identification at polling units.

The chamber also removed Clause 142, which addressed the effect of non-compliance in election petitions. Senators argued that the provision could limit the need for oral evidence and add to the burden on courts.

Before the bill can become law, the Senate and the House of Representatives must reconcile their versions and forward the final draft to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

Reactions followed the Senate’s decision to reject electronic transmission of election results. The Labour Party, a Turaki-led faction of the PDP, former PDP Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George, and APGA founder Chief Chekwas Okorie criticised the move.