The Senate has rejected a proposed 10-year jail term for the buying and selling of Permanent Voter Cards, opting instead to retain a two-year imprisonment term while increasing the fine from ₦2 million to ₦5 million under Clause 22 of the Electoral Amendment Bill.
According to Vanguard, the decision came during a clause-by-clause review of the bill, with lawmakers also making several adjustments to electoral timelines.
Under Clause 28, the Senate reduced the notice of election period from 360 days to 180 days, while Clause 29 shortened the deadline for political parties to submit candidates’ lists and affidavits from 180 days to 90 days before a general election. Lawmakers emphasized that all nominees must emerge from valid party primaries.
The Senate also retained provisions on ballot paper formats under Clause 44, directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to invite political parties at least 20 days before an election to inspect sample electoral materials.
Parties are allowed two days to approve or reject how their identities appear on ballots.
In a notable technological change, lawmakers replaced smart card readers with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System under Clause 47, but rejected proposals for electronically generated voter identification, insisting that the PVC remains the only acceptable ID at polling units.
On the issue of electronic transmission of results, the Senate struck down proposals mandating real-time upload of polling unit results.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio clarified the decision, saying, “This Senate under my watch has not rejected the electronic transmission of results… we have retained what was in the previous provision by way of amendment… so it is still part of our law.”
Additionally, the Senate removed Clause 142, which sought to limit the need for oral evidence in election petitions. Lawmakers argued that the clause could clog the courts and waste judicial time.
For the bill to become law, the Senate and the House of Representatives must harmonize their versions and transmit it to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
The Senate’s stance on electronic transmission has drawn criticism from several political leaders.
The Labour Party called the rejection of mandatory uploads “retrogressive”, while former PDP Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George described it as a decision that undermines confidence in the electoral process.
APGA founder Chief Chekwas Okorie also weighed in, warning that the Senate’s approach risks leaving the electoral system vulnerable to manipulation.
