10 Things To Know About Nigeria Electoral Amendment Bill

Want to know the cool facts about the Nigeria electoral amendment bill?

President Mohammadu is preparing to sign the Nigeria electoral act amendment bill 2021 today, so we thought we could answer some of the questions people searches on the web related to the Nigeria electoral bill:

• what is Nigeria electoral bill?
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So if you are one of the people searching for these questions this article is what you need.

Here are the 10 most lovely things to know about the Nigeria Electoral Amendment Bill.

1. EARLY RELEASE OF ELECTION FUNDS TO INEC

The bill would strengthens the financial independence of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by ensuring that all funding required for a general election is released not later than one year before the general elections.

2. ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF RESULTS

The bill would allows INEC to determine if election results are transmitted electronically or manually.

3. POWER TO REVIEW ELECTION RESULTS DECLARED UNDER DURESS

The bill would gives INEC the power to review declarations and returns made under questionable circumstances to keep Returning Officers in check. The provision will fundamentally transform the results management process and deter politicians from compelling election officials to declare fabricated election results that can only be challenged in court.

4. POLITICAL NEUTRALITY OF INEC PERSONNEL

A person who, being a member of a political party, misrepresents himself by not disclosing his membership, affiliation, or connection to any political party in order to secure an appointment with INEC in any capacity, commits an offence and is liable on conviction, to a fine of N5,000,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or both.

5. LEGALISING ELECTRONIC ACCREDITATION OF VOTERS

The bill would makes provision for electronic accreditation of voters using the Smart Card Readers or any technological device as may be determined by INEC.

6. INCLUSION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

The bill would mandates INEC to ensure that persons with disabilities, special needs and vulnerable persons are assisted at the polling place by the provision of suitable means of communication, such as Braille, large embossed print, electronic devices, sign language interpretation, or off-site voting in appropriate cases.

7. REDEFINED OVERVOTING

Overvoting occurs when the number of votes cast at an election in any polling unit exceeds the total number of accredited voters in that polling unit. Therefore, ‘total number of accredited voters’, will become a determining factor in the validity of votes in an election.

8. EARLY CONDUCT OF PARTY PRIMARIES AND SUBMISSION OF LIST OF CANDIDATES

Every political party shall, not later than 180 days (-6 months) prior to election day, submit the list of its candidates, who must have emerged from valid primaries conducted by the political party, to INEC.

9. EARLY COMMENCEMENT OF CAMPAIGNS

Public campaigns by political parties have been extended from 90 days to 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.

10. SUBSTITUTION OF CANDIDATE IN THE EVENT OF DEATH IN AN ELECTION

The bill would affords political parties the opportunity to conduct primary elections to replace a candidate who dies after the commencement of polls and before the announcement of final results and declaration of a winner.

A timeline of 21 days is provided for INEC to conclude an election and declare a winner.

In the case of legislative elections, the election will start afresh, and a political party affected by the bereavement can conduct a new primary within 14 days to nominate a new candidate.

However, in the case of presidential and governorship elections, the running mate of the deceased candidate will continue with the election and nominate a running mate.