The House of Representatives has rejected a proposal seeking to criminalise the inducement of delegates during party primaries.
Lawmakers voted against the proposal on Thursday during clause-by-clause consideration of a report on the amendment of the Electoral Act 2022.
The rejected clause proposed a two-year jail term, without an option of a fine, for any individual found guilty of financially or materially inducing delegates to influence the outcome of party primaries.
Clause 89(4) of the amendment report had stated: “A person that financially or materially induces a delegate for the purpose of influencing the outcome of party primaries, congresses and conventions commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for two years without an option of fine.”
However, the proposal was unanimously voted down after Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, called for a voice vote.
Inducement of delegates—often involving cash or material incentives to sway votes at party congresses and conventions—remains a recurring feature of party primaries in Nigeria. The practice is largely attributed to the delegate-based primary system, which concentrates decision-making power in the hands of a limited number of party members.
Despite rejecting the proposal on delegate inducement, the lawmakers approved a separate provision imposing tougher penalties for offences relating to ballot papers and election materials.
Under the approved clause, any person who, without lawful authority, prints ballot papers or materials capable of being used as ballot papers or result forms; prints more than the number authorised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); or is found in possession of ballot papers or result forms outside the voting process while an election is ongoing, commits an offence.
The provision also criminalises the manufacture, construction, importation, possession, supply, or use of ballot boxes or related equipment designed to allow ballot papers or result forms to be secretly inserted, diverted, or manipulated.
Offenders are liable on conviction to a fine of up to ₦75 million, imprisonment for a minimum of 10 years, or both.