House of Reps Tightens Electoral Laws with Tougher Penalties for Forgery and Ballot Fraud

The House of Representatives has approved significant increases in penalties for key electoral offences as part of amendments to the Electoral Act 2022.

Lawmakers endorsed a 10‑year prison sentence or a fine of ₦75 million for anyone convicted of forging nomination forms or willfully destroying election result documents, a sharp rise from the former ₦50 million penalty.

In addition, a ₦5 million fine was approved for the improper use of a voter’s card, aiming to reduce voter manipulation and misuse.

However, representatives rejected a proposal that would have criminalised the financial inducement of party delegates during primaries, citing concerns that it could be misused for political vendettas.

The amendments also revise how election authorities handle cases of over‑voting. Instead of automatically cancelling results and rerunning polls, the House approved a process to deduct excess votes proportionally from all candidates’ tallies and prosecute the responsible presiding officer.

Committee Chair Adebayo Balogun explained that the initial proposals had sought a full overhaul of the Electoral Act but were scaled back in favour of targeted reforms after consultations with stakeholders.