INEC Warns Nigerians: Ignorance of Amended 2026 Electoral Act Not Excuse to Shield Offenders

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged Nigerians to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the amended 2026 Electoral Act, warning that ignorance of the law will not protect anyone from sanctions for electoral offences.

The call was made by the Head of Legal Services, INEC Kwara State Office, Barrister Abdulfatai Atata, during a one-day seminar organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council.

The seminar, titled “Dissecting the Amended Electoral Act 2026: The Innovation and Its Implications,” brought together journalists and election stakeholders to examine key changes introduced by the new law.

Atata stressed that the Electoral Act provides the legal framework for electing public office holders in Nigeria and urged citizens, political parties and other stakeholders to understand its provisions.

“Ignorance of the provisions of the amended Electoral Act will not be an excuse for anyone who violates the law,” he said.

He explained that the amended Act provides for the timely release of election funds to ensure eligible voters can freely exercise their franchise, while also simplifying voter identification requirements by recognising documents such as birth certificates, National Identity Cards and driver’s licences.

According to him, Section 22 of the Act broadens the scope of electoral offences by holding not only those who induce voters but also those who receive inducements accountable, describing the provision as a deterrent against vote trading.

The INEC legal chief further disclosed that the period for issuing notice of elections has been reduced to 300 days to improve election planning, while Section 28 shortens the timeline for conducting general elections by 60 days from the previous 120-day schedule.

Atata also highlighted reforms aimed at strengthening internal democracy within political parties, noting that Section 77 now makes it compulsory for political parties to maintain both digital and hard-copy membership registers for easy access by stakeholders.

He added that the Act reviewed campaign spending limits, saying the measure was designed to curb excessive expenditure and reduce the influence of money in politics.

“The mandatory use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) or any other technology approved by INEC will further reduce electoral malpractice,” he said.

He noted that Section 128(1) addresses many of the issues responsible for pre-election disputes and election petitions, while the amended law also provides clear procedures for handling technology failures during elections.

Atata commended the media for its critical role in voter education and public enlightenment, urging journalists to continue supporting efforts to deepen Nigeria’s democracy.

Also speaking, the Head of Voter Education and Publicity, INEC Kwara State, Dr. Adigun Peter, said electoral malpractice remained a challenge because of the actions of several stakeholders, particularly politicians who had shifted attention to vote buying.

He, however, expressed confidence that improvements in INEC’s electoral processes and technology would significantly reduce such practices.

“Politicians now resort to vote buying to achieve their aims, but we need the support of the media and other stakeholders to restore sanity to the electoral process,” Peter said.

The Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, INEC Kwara State, Mr. Abdulkadir Ibrahim, said the new provisions had strengthened the principle of “one man, one vote,” expressing optimism that the reforms would make vote buying ineffective and ultimately eliminate electoral malpractice.

Earlier, Chairman of the NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel in Kwara State, Comrade Biola Azeez, said the seminar was organised to equip journalists with adequate knowledge of the amended Electoral Act so they could effectively educate the public.

He described members of the Correspondents’ Chapel as key players in information dissemination with both national and international reach, stressing that the media remains central to promoting accountability, transparency and democratic governance in Nigeria.