Daniel Otera
The proposal by Nigeria’s House of Representatives for a single day represents a significant move toward reforming the nation’s electoral system. Spearheaded by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, this proposal seeks to address pressing issues such as voter turnout, political tension, logistical challenges, and the escalating costs associated with staggered elections.
Speaker Abbas shared the vision with a visiting delegation from the European Union in Abuja, stating, “Like the single-day election, it is to hold the election of the president, national assembly membership, governorship, and state house of assembly membership elections on the same day. In our own thinking, it will help to reduce our electoral process, particularly on the turnout of voters.” According to the Speaker, this proposal is part of a larger constitutional reform package currently under discussion in the National Assembly, which also includes other significant reforms such as reserved seats for women and persons with disabilities, financial autonomy for traditional rulers, and enhanced roles for local governance.
Supporters of the single-day election plan argue that it could help resolve several long-standing issues in Nigeria’s electoral process. The most significant of these is the challenge of voter participation. The complexity of having elections at different times for different offices has led to lower turnout in some cases, especially for state-level elections. A single election day could make it easier for voters to engage and cast their votes in all contests on one occasion, leading to higher overall participation.
Moreover, the logistical burden of organizing elections across multiple days has often been overwhelming. Security personnel, election officials, and resources are stretched thin when elections are held on separate days, requiring different security arrangements across various regions. The costs associated with the multiple stages of election logistics ranging from transportation, voter education, to material distribution could be greatly reduced with a single election day.
Additionally, the proposal is expected to reduce political tensions that often arise during staggered elections. The interspersed electoral calendar can lead to a prolonged period of political campaigning and public unrest, as different political actors and parties focus on different elections at various times.
Despite the potential benefits, previous attempts to implement single-day elections in Nigeria have faced significant challenges. Historically, proposals for a unified election day have faltered during constitutional review processes, largely due to opposition from state legislatures. The National Democratic Institute (NDI) has highlighted the reluctance of state lawmakers, who have expressed concerns over the loss of political influence that could result from the consolidation of elections. These concerns have played a pivotal role in stalling the implementation of the proposal.
In 2010, a proposal for a unified election day was introduced in the Nigerian National Assembly. However, this proposal failed to gain traction, as political opposition, particularly from state assemblies, blocked the motion. At the time, critics raised valid concerns about the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manage such a monumental task. The country’s vast demographic diversity and complex infrastructural challenges led many to question whether INEC could successfully oversee simultaneous elections for multiple offices—including the presidency, National Assembly, and state elections—on a single day.
Despite these setbacks, the capacity of INEC has improved significantly in recent years. The 2023 elections marked a significant milestone as INEC successfully conducted presidential, National Assembly, and state elections in tandem, albeit over multiple days. This achievement demonstrates that the commission has made substantial progress in handling the logistical and organizational challenges that hindered previous attempts.
The financial burden of conducting elections in Nigeria has long been a topic of concern, particularly given the staggering costs involved in organizing separate elections for different offices. For the 2023 general elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was allocated a substantial ₦313.4 billion (approximately $680 million) for the process. This figure is a critical part of the ongoing conversation about electoral reforms, especially in light of the proposal to conduct all elections on a single day.
INEC’s budget was broken down into key components such as ₦159.7 billion for electoral operations, ₦117.3 billion for electoral technology, and a ₦7.4 billion contingency fund. Additionally, the expenditure covered the costs of securing election materials, training officials, and conducting post-election monitoring. On average, ₦3,801 (approximately $6.72) was spent for each registered voter in the country. This sum represents a significant portion of the national budget and highlights the substantial financial commitment required to stage elections across multiple days and rounds.
In comparison, countries that have adopted a single-day election format have reported reductions in electoral expenditure. For example, Kenya’s 2017 general elections, which were conducted on a single day, cost approximately $532 million (₦54.1 billion). With 19.6 million registered voters, the cost per voter was about $25.4, significantly higher than Nigeria’s. However, Kenya, like many other countries with single-day elections, reports that the streamlined process reduces not only costs but also logistical challenges and voter fatigue.
Adopting a single-day election model could help Nigeria reduce these costs by consolidating election events into one day, thus lowering logistical expenses associated with multiple rounds of voting. This would likely lead to cost savings on materials, security personnel, and transportation. Furthermore, streamlining the election process would reduce the burden on election officials and improve the efficiency of the electoral system.
According to a report by the World Bank, countries that implement single-day elections typically experience cost reductions of up to 30% compared to countries with staggered elections. If Nigeria were to follow this model, the country could save billions of naira in future election cycles, enabling resources to be better allocated toward improving election security and voter education.
Nigeria is not alone in contemplating this reform. Several countries, including Brazil, Germany, and Mexico, have successfully implemented unified election days for their general elections, leading to significant improvements in voter turnout and a reduction in electoral costs.
Brazil has long been a frontrunner in conducting presidential, legislative, and state elections on the same day. The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) of Brazil reports that the country’s unified elections have contributed to a steady increase in voter participation over the past two decades. According to their data, voter turnout has consistently surpassed 80% in the last two general elections. Brazil’s success with this model underscores the benefits of consolidating elections, reducing costs, and improving voter engagement.
Germany conducts its federal elections on a single day, and this approach has yielded positive results in terms of both voter turnout and cost-effectiveness. The German Election Authority reports that holding all elections on the same day has significantly reduced logistical burdens while enhancing voter participation. Voter turnout in Germany has been consistently high, with elections attracting broad participation across all age groups and demographics. The country’s ability to manage a high volume of voters on a single day without compromising the integrity of the election process provides valuable insights for Nigeria.
Mexico also embraced the concept of single-day elections, and the country’s experience offers further evidence of the effectiveness of this model. Studies show that Mexico’s voter turnout improved following the shift to conducting all elections on the same day, particularly in rural areas where logistical hurdles often hindered participation in past elections.
Despite the strong push from the National Assembly, questions remain as to whether the proposal will survive the ongoing constitutional reform process. Previous attempts have faltered due to political resistance and lack of broad support at the state level. For the proposal to pass, state assemblies must approve the constitutional amendments, a process that will likely be contentious and slow.
However, with the ongoing focus on improving Nigeria’s electoral process, the proposal for a single-day election remains a potentially game-changing reform. According to Speaker Abbas, “We will do all the needful as far as legislation is concerned to enable INEC to have all the necessary tools and provisions to make the 2027 election much better than the 2023 election.”
If adopted, Nigeria would join a growing list of countries that conduct general elections on a single day, a system often credited with reducing costs and increasing transparency. The question now is whether the proposal will be embraced by all stakeholders in time for the 2027 elections.