Senate Moves to Shift Election Proof Burden to INEC

The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday proposed a new electoral reform that would transfer the burden of proof in election petitions from candidates to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The proposal came during a debate on a bill seeking to repeal the 2022 Electoral Act and replace it with a new Electoral Act 2025. Lawmakers said the change would make INEC more accountable for the elections it conducts and ensure a fairer process for candidates contesting results.

Under the current law, anyone challenging election outcomes must prove irregularities, but the new proposal would make INEC responsible for defending the credibility of the polls.

Several senators, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Seriake Dickson, supported the move, saying INEC should be answerable for the conduct and outcome of elections since it manages logistics, staff, and collation of results.

The bill also proposes other changes, such as transferring the conduct of local government elections from state electoral commissions to INEC and introducing advanced technology for result transmission.

Another provision seeks to make the Permanent Voter Card optional for accreditation, while some lawmakers called for stricter rules against defection of elected officials.Senator Simon Lalong, who sponsored the bill, described it as a full reform of the electoral system, not just an amendment.

He explained that while the 2022 Act introduced new measures like electronic result transmission, it also exposed flaws in enforcement and voter data management.The Senate has set a target to complete work on the bill before December 2025 to allow enough time for implementation ahead of the 2027 elections.

Lawmakers said the goal is to ensure transparency, improve election credibility, and strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s democratic system.