Senate Proposes Tougher Penalties for Vote Buying Ahead of 2027 Elections

The Nigerian Senate has proposed stiffer penalties for vote buying and other electoral offences as part of preparations for the 2027 general elections.

Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday to mark the resumption of plenary by the 10th National Assembly. He said the proposals are contained in the Electoral Bill 2025, which is currently before the legislature.

According to Bamidele, the bill recommends fines of up to ₦5 million, prison terms of up to two years, and a 10-year ban from contesting elections for individuals found guilty of vote buying. The legislation also proposes mandatory jail terms and increased fines for offences such as falsification of results and obstruction of election officials.

He said the measures are intended to curb impunity and improve public confidence in the electoral process.

The bill further introduces electronically generated voter identification, including a downloadable voter card embedded with a unique QR code. It also mandates presiding officers to transmit polling unit results electronically, alongside the total number of accredited voters.

Bamidele said the proposed law seeks to standardise delegates for indirect party primaries, preventing party leaders from unilaterally determining delegate selection criteria.

He added that the Senate and House of Representatives committees on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would soon submit their reports for clause-by-clause consideration of the bill.

Beyond electoral reforms, Bamidele said the National Assembly would devote significant attention to the 2026 appropriation bill presented by President Bola Tinubu to a joint session of parliament on December 18, 2025. He described the budget as critical to economic growth, stability, and job creation.

He noted that the recently enacted 2025 Tax Reform Act has adjusted Nigeria’s fiscal framework by reducing the tax burden on low-income earners while increasing obligations for high-income earners. According to him, this shift is expected to improve revenue generation and gradually reduce the budget deficit.

Bamidele also said the review of the 1999 Constitution has reached an advanced stage, following the completion of technical sessions and public hearings. He said Barau Jibrin, Deputy Senate President and Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, would soon present the report to the Senate.

He explained that the final amendments would require approval by at least two-thirds of state houses of assembly, in line with constitutional provisions.

Bamidele said the coming months would involve intensive legislative work, with a focus on electoral reform, fiscal policy, and governance restructuring, aimed at strengthening democratic processes ahead of the 2027 elections.