The Nigerian Senate has unveiled plans to impose stiffer penalties on vote buying and other electoral offences as part of efforts to safeguard the integrity of the 2027 general elections. The proposal is contained in the Electoral Bill 2025, which is currently being reviewed by the National Assembly.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday to mark the resumption of plenary by the 10th National Assembly. According to him, the bill is designed to close existing loopholes in the electoral system and deter practices that undermine free, fair and credible elections.
Under the proposed law, individuals found guilty of vote buying could face a fine of up to N5 million, a prison term of up to two years, and a 10-year ban from contesting in any election. Bamidele said the bill also recommends tougher sanctions, including mandatory jail terms and higher fines, for offences such as falsification of election results and obstruction of election officials.
He explained that the reforms are aimed at ending impunity and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. To achieve this, the bill introduces electronically generated voter identification, including a downloadable voter card embedded with a unique QR code to enhance verification.
The legislation also makes it compulsory for presiding officers to transmit polling unit results electronically, alongside the total number of accredited voters, to reduce manipulation and improve transparency. In addition, the bill seeks to standardise the use of delegates in indirect party primaries, preventing party leaders from arbitrarily setting delegate criteria.
Bamidele noted 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. He stressed that the reforms are intended to guarantee credible, transparent and secure elections starting from 2027.
Beyond electoral matters, the senate leader said lawmakers would face a demanding workload over the next 16 months, with strong attention on governance reforms. He said the National Assembly would devote significant time to considering the 2026 appropriation bill presented by President Bola Tinubu on December 18, 2025.
Describing the budget as critical to national development, Bamidele said it is designed to strengthen macroeconomic stability, boost Nigeria’s global competitiveness, create jobs and improve living standards. He added that the recently enacted 2025 Tax Reform Act has eased the tax burden on low-income earners while placing greater responsibility on high-income earners.
According to him, the tax reforms have expanded Nigeria’s fiscal space and are expected to make budget funding easier while gradually reducing the country’s budget deficit. He also reaffirmed the Senate’s commitment to reforms that would ensure credible elections in 2027.
On constitutional matters, Bamidele said the review of the 1999 Constitution has reached an advanced stage, with technical sessions and public hearings already concluded. He added that Barau Jibrin, the deputy senate president and chairman of the constitution review committee, would soon present the final report to the Senate.
“At the end of it all,” Bamidele said, “good governance, improved security and the welfare of our constituents will remain our top priorities.”
