In preparation for the 2023 general elections, the House of Representatives in Nigeria has passed for a second reading, the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2020. The Bill seeks to among many things; reduce the excessive campaign expenses incurred by politicians during elections.
The legislation entitled, “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Electoral Act N0. 6, 2010 (As amended 2015) and enact the Independent National Electoral Commission Act 2020, to regulate Conduct of Federal State and area Council Elections and for related matters, 2020,’’ was sponsored by Honorable Aisha Dukku.
Calling for swift action to be taken ahead of the country’s next general elections scheduled for 2021, Dukku explained the importance of fixing Nigeria’s current electoral laws, and by extension, its electoral system.
She said, ‘’It is no longer news that our electoral experiences since 1999 show a strong correlation between an efficient and effective electoral legal framework and the conduct of free, fair and credible elections. In fact, amendments of our electoral laws were long identified as priority legislation by the National Assembly because of the need to consolidate on the gains of our democratic achievements and to also address the lacuna identified in the electoral legal framework.”
New Campaign Limits
The Act when amended will set the maximum expenses to be incurred by a candidate at the presidential election at N5 billion; governorship, N1 billion; senatorial, N100million; House of Representatives, N70 million; state assembly, N30 million, chairmanship for area councils in the case of the FCT, N30million and councilors, N5 million.
The Bill Covers Other Election Matters
The Bill which has been floating around in one form or the other before the 2019 general elections, also seeks to ensure the strict use of card readers, ban the substitution of candidates by political parties, and end late releases of polling funds to the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC).
In his contribution, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila said that there must be a strict usage of the card reader, without the application of other technological devices in all polls.
The House adopted and passed the Bill for a Public hearing and subsequent third reading.
This story is part of our new series on Nigeria where we analyse electoral and political reform in the country ahead of the next general elections in 2023.
