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17 Key Highlights on the New Electoral Act in Nigeria

Key Highlights on the New Electoral Act in Nigeria – The new Electoral Act in Nigeria is Nigeria’s dream come through. Many well-meaning Nigerians had been crying for electoral reform in Nigeria. God heard the cry of these Nigerians when President Buhari decided to sign the new Electoral Act into law came February 25, 2022.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had withheld his assent to this same Amendment Bill several times before this day. However, God must take Nigeria to a higher level hence He made him assent to the Bill this day.


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In this post, we want to look into seventeen key highlights of this new Electoral Act. The seventeen key highlights that we shall look into are:Information Guide Nigeria

  • INEC’s financial independence
  • Election notice
  • Party primaries
  • Political parties campaigns
  • Electronic voting database
  • Over voting
  • INEC’s result review
  • Political appointees
  • Electoral candidate’s death or resignation
  • Electoral technological changes
  • Application of the new Electoral Act17 Key Highlights on the New Electoral Act in Nigeria
  • Rich democratic culture
  • The legality of technological devices
  • Political anarchy refuted
  • People with disabilities
  • World standards
  • INEC’s empowerment

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Nigerian New Electoral Act Highlights

  1. INEC’s Financial Independence

With the new Electoral Act, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is now financially autonomous. The law now mandates the Federal Government to release all funds to it “at least one year before” any election that it conducts. The new Electoral Act also establishes a fund for the commission. The Federal Government pays money into this fund. The commission has the power to make any investment from the fund. Grants and aids can equally be paid into this fund. Thus, INEC is now financially autonomous.

  1. Election Notice

Through the new Electoral Act, INEC now has three hundred and sixty (360) days before any election holds to notify the public of such an election. In the old law, this was only ninety, 90, days. Thus, INEC now has ample time to prepare for all elections that it holds.20 Best Tripods in Nigeria and their Prices

  1. Party Primaries

The new Electoral Act now mandates all political parties to conduct their primaries early enough before all elections. All the candidates that emerge from such primaries are now to be submitted to INEC not later than one hundred and eighty (280) days before the date of holding the election in which they are candidates. In the old law, this was only sixty, 60, days.4 Best Single Wall Ovens in Nigeria and their Prices

  1. Political Parties Campaigns

In the new Electoral Act, the time for political parties to start their campaigns in public places is now one hundred and fifty (150) days before the day of the election. All such campaigns are also to stop twenty-four (24) hours before the day of the election. In the old law, it was ninety (90) days and twenty-four hours.NYSC Portal

  1. Electronic Voting Database

The new Electoral Act now empowers INEC to have a central electronic voters’ database in its National Headquarters and other places. By this, INEC has outgrown the manual methods of keeping voters’ registers. Thus, dubious people no longer have papers to burn in INEC’s offices. In addition, box snatchers will only do so to their detriment.

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  1. Over Voting

The new Electoral Act now solves the problem of overvoting permanently. By the new Electoral Act, those who are eligible to vote in any polling unit are those who are accredited in the particular unit wherein they are to vote. Under the old law, it was the number of those who were registered in the polling unit. This means that election results can no longer be inflated.

  1. INEC’s Result Review

The new Electoral Act now empowers INEC to review any result that any returning officers submit to it that is doubtful. INEC now has seven (7) days to validate all such results. In the old law, only the election tribunal or the court of law had such power.105 Good Morning My Love Messages

  1. Political Appointees

The new Electoral Act now excludes Political Appointees from being voting delegates or being voted for. If they want to participate in the electoral process, they are to resign their appointments for that purpose. Thus, such people no longer have the power to influence election results.

  1. Electoral Candidates’ Death or Resignation

Under the new Electoral Act, political parties are now to conduct fresh primaries for the replacement of a dead or resigned candidate within fourteen (14) days of such candidate’s death or resignation. The election in which such a candidate would have participated will now be suspended for twenty-one (21) days. Where the affected person is a gubernatorial or a presidential candidate, the running mate is to continue with the election with a new running mate.200 Romantic Love Message for her

  1. Electoral Technological Changes

The new Electoral Act now empowers INEC to use technological devices such as smart card readers in its conduct of general elections. Most importantly, the new Electoral Act has laid to rest the argument on the electronic transmission of election results. INEC can now transmit its election results electronically.

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  1. Application of the New Electoral Act

In his keynote address delivered at the fourth Abubakar Momoh Memorial lecture, the INEC chair urged all political leaders to study the new Electoral Act very well because the commission was scrupulously ready to apply the new law without fear or favour.NYSC Portal

Thanks to God that INEC is now ready to conduct transparent elections that are free and fair. Such had been the cry of many well-meaning Nigerians who needed elections that are credible and inclusive.

  1. Rich Democratic Culture

One good thing about the new Electoral Act is that it has ushered Nigeria into a growing rich democratic culture. Only those who are not ready for true democracy in Nigeria can go against the new Electoral Act. If the INEC chair and all his subordinates are ready to follow the new law scrupulously, nothing will make the commission not conduct elections whose outcomes are acceptable to all.

  1. The legality of Technological Devices

Thanks to God that INEC’s innovations of using technological devices such as the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System and INEC Voter Empowerment Device are now legal in the Nigerian electoral process. These matters have received hot debates among lawmakers for years. Thus, the new Electoral Act is a breakthrough in the Nigerian democratic process.

  1. Political Anarchy Refuted

The new Electoral Act has pointed it clearly to Nigerian politicians that politics is not anarchy. The Electoral Act will now make the politicians pursue politics justifiably and orderly in Nigeria. Gone are the days when politicians take election matters to be an a-do-or-die affair.

Recall that many politicians have been killed because their opponents wanted to win the elections by force. Some of us have heard results announced where elections were never held. This is now impossible with the INEC viewing portal and the electronic transmission of results. It will now become clear that elections did not take place in those polling units.Jamb Portal

  1. People with Disabilities

The new Electoral Act now makes room for people with disabilities to exercise their civic right of voting for a person of their choice. Those with special needs are also covered in the new Electoral Act.

  1. World Standards

Democracy is now ruling the entire universe. Nigeria, being a democratic country, has now crept up to maintain world standards in its electoral process. World observers would now see Nigeria as doing the right thing in its electoral process.

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  1. INEC’s Empowerment

The new Electoral Act has now empowered INEC to conduct elections that are fair and credible. INEC now has all that it takes to make its elections acceptable throughout the world.

Conclusion

It is a joyful thing to see Nigeria grow into a rich democratic culture. Coming up to world standards has not been easy. Thanks to the INEC chair who has such innovations.

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Isaiah Atawheke

Isaiah is a Content Developer at InfoGuideNIgeria.com. InfoGuide Nigeria is a team of Resource Persons and Consultants led by Ifiokobong Ibanga. Page maintained by Ifiokobong Ibanga. If you need a personal assistance on this topic, kindly contact us.

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