Nigeria's House Updates Electoral Act to Allow Digital Service of Election Petitions

Context The amendment comes as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections. Lawmakers debated the changes in a Committee of the Whole session chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, after two related bills cleared second reading. The reforms target long‑standing bottlenecks in serving legal documents during pre‑election litigation.

Key Facts - The revised Act creates a technology‑driven framework for serving election petition processes. Candidates must now submit both physical addresses and electronic contacts, such as email and phone numbers. - Service can be effected by personal delivery, registered post, email, or SMS. Proof of transmission—delivery receipts or system logs—counts as valid service, even if the recipient does not acknowledge receipt. - A new Section 29A clarifies court jurisdiction: the Federal High Court handles National Assembly, State Assembly and governorship disputes, while the Court of Appeal has original jurisdiction over presidential pre‑election matters, with final appeals to the Supreme Court. - Committee chair Adebayo Balogun said the changes will “provide clarity and certainty on the jurisdiction of courts in pre‑election matters, enhance timely adjudication, introduce flexible and technology‑driven modes of service, and curb delays associated with the service of court processes.” - Concerns that electronic messages might be filtered as spam were raised by a Sokoto lawmaker but dismissed; speakers emphasized that physical service remains an option, with digital channels adding redundancy.

What It Means By mandating electronic contact details and recognizing email and SMS as valid service methods, the amendment reduces reliance on physical delivery, which has been described as “outdated and susceptible to manipulation.” Faster, verifiable service should cut delays that have previously stalled court hearings, potentially decreasing frivolous objections and improving the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral justice system. The clarified jurisdiction hierarchy is expected to limit preliminary challenges and streamline appeals.

Stakeholders will watch how courts implement electronic service rules and whether the new system curtails the backlog of election petitions as the 2027 elections approach.