Electoral & Democracy

Electoral Act 2022

Modernised election machinery — legalised electronic voter accreditation (BVAS), result transmission (IReV) and early party primaries.

Signed
2022-02-25
Status
In force

1 Background

The Electoral Act 2022 was the first major overhaul of Nigerian election law since 2010. It gave INEC the explicit authority to deploy electronic accreditation devices (BVAS), to transmit polling-unit results electronically (IReV), and to publish results in real time. It also pushed party primaries earlier (180 days before the election) to allow proper judicial review of nomination disputes before voting begins. The 2023 general elections were the first run under this Act.

2 Key provisions (6)

01
INEC authorised to deploy electronic voter accreditation devices (BVAS)
02
Polling-unit result transmission (IReV) legally recognised
03
Party primaries minimum 180 days before election day
04
Increased candidate-finance disclosure thresholds
05
Independent candidacy explicitly permitted
06
Election tribunal timelines tightened

3 What changed in practice

2023 election results uploaded to IReV polling-unit level (first time)
BVAS rolled out nationwide — accreditation friction reduced
Multiple presidential/governorship results successfully challenged within the new tribunal timelines

4 Who it affects

VotersCandidatesINECPolitical parties

5 What it repealed / replaced

Other laws in Electoral & Democracy