The Senate has rejected a proposed 10-year jail term for buyers and sellers of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), opting for a two-year imprisonment term and increasing the fine from ₦2 million to ₦5 million.
This decision was part of the clause-by-clause consideration of the Electoral Amendment Bill.
Under Clause 28, the Senate reduced the notice of election period from 360 days to 180 days before polling day.
In Clause 29, the chamber shortened the deadline for political parties to submit candidates’ lists and affidavits from 180 days to 90 days before a general election, requiring that nominees must emerge from valid party primaries.
The Senate also retained provisions in Clause 44 on ballot paper formats, directing INEC to invite parties not later than 20 days before an election to inspect samples of electoral materials, with parties given two days to approve or reject how their identities appear.
Under Clause 47, lawmakers replaced smart card readers with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for accreditation and voting, but rejected electronically generated voter identification, adopting the Permanent Voter’s Card as the mode of identification at polling units.
Meanwhile, the Senate also struck out Clause 142 on the effect of non-compliance, citing potential waste of judicial time.
Meanwhile, the bill now awaits harmonization with the House of Representatives’ version before transmission to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
