By Ezenwa Nwagwu
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s governance and civic space have said that while the amended Electoral Act 2026 introduces several reforms capable of strengthening the country’s democratic process, its success will ultimately depend on effective enforcement, stronger institutional cooperation, and sustained civic engagement.
The position was reached during the maiden edition of the Sectorial Reflection Series on Policy and Laws, hosted by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) in partnership with Legis360.
The forum brought together civil society organisations, governance experts, and media professionals to review key provisions of the amended Electoral Act and assess their potential implications for democratic governance in Nigeria.
Discussions at the event focused on critical aspects of the amended law, including voter registration procedures, the introduction of downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), electoral offences, revised electoral timelines, party regulation, and campaign financing.
In a communique issued at the end of the meeting held in Abuja and signed by PAACA Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, participants noted that the provision requiring voters to present identification such as birth certificates, passports, or National Identification Numbers (NIN) during registration could help improve the integrity and accuracy of the voter register.
However, they cautioned that the requirement may inadvertently exclude many citizens in underserved and rural communities who lack access to formal identification documents.
“Participants noted that the amended Electoral Act offers a genuine opportunity to improve Nigeria’s electoral system but warned that legislative reforms alone would not be sufficient to guarantee credible elections ,” the statement read.
According to the statement, the participants called for consistent enforcement of the law, stronger collaboration among electoral institutions, and greater public awareness of the reforms.
Nwagwu described the Series as a continuing platform designed to promote evidence-based dialogue on Nigeria’s policy and legislative development, with the goal of strengthening democratic governance through informed engagement by civil society, policymakers, and the media.
The dialogue also examined the requirement for political parties to maintain digital membership registers describing it as a step toward improving transparency and accountability within party structures.
However, stakeholders stressed the importance of robust data management systems and safeguards to protect personal information.
Stakeholders also welcomed the introduction of a downloadable PVC as a backup to the physical card, describing it as a potentially useful innovation that could ease voter access during elections.
They stressed, however, that clear operational guidelines and deliberate efforts to ensure digital inclusion would be necessary to guarantee that the new system does not create additional barriers for voters with limited access to technology.
On electoral offences, participants observed that the amended Act introduces stricter penalties, including fines of at least five million naira and possible imprisonment for offenders.
While this was seen as a positive step toward discouraging electoral malpractice such as vote buying, stakeholders emphasised that stronger prosecutorial commitment and improved coordination among relevant agencies would be critical to ensure the provisions are effectively enforced.
The dialogue also examined the revised electoral timelines introduced in the Act. The law reduces the period for issuing election notices from 360 days to 300 days and shortens the deadline for political parties to submit candidates from 180 days to 120 days before elections.
Participants noted that the adjustments could streamline election preparations if institutions strengthen their planning and operational capacity.
