The House of Representatives has rejected a proposal to criminalise the inducement of voters during party primaries.

 

 

 

Lawmakers voted against the provision on Thursday, December 18, during clause by clause consideration of a report seeking to amend the Electoral Act 2022.

 

 

 

The rejected clause proposed a two year jail term without the option of a fine for anyone who financially or materially induced delegates to influence the outcome of party primaries, congresses or conventions.

 

 

 

 

Clause 89 subsection four of the amendment report stated that “a person that financially or materially induces a delegate for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the party primaries, congresses and conventions commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment of two years without an option of fine”.

 

 

 

However, the proposal was unanimously voted down when the presiding officer, Benjamin Kalu, called for a voice vote.

 

 

 

 

 

The inducement of delegates through cash or material incentives is a common feature of party primaries in Nigeria, largely driven by the delegate based system, which places significant influence in the hands of a small number of party members.

 

 

 

While rejecting the inducement clause, the lawmakers approved tougher penalties for offences relating to ballot papers and election materials.

 

 

 

Under the approved provision, any person who, without proper authority, prints a ballot paper or any item capable of being used as a ballot paper or result form, prints more than the number authorised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, or is found in possession of a ballot paper or result form while voting is ongoing and without lawful justification, commits an offence.

 

 

 

The amendment also provides that anyone who manufactures, constructs, imports, possesses, supplies to an election official or uses any ballot box or related device that allows ballot papers or result forms to be secretly inserted, diverted or manipulated will face severe punishment.

 

 

 

Such offenders will be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of 75 million naira, a prison tem of not less than 10 years, or both.