Samuel Omang
The House of Representatives has unveiled a proposal that could dramatically reshape Nigeria’s electoral process by mandating that presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly elections be conducted on the same day.
The move, announced by Speaker of the House, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, during a meeting with a delegation from the European Union in Abuja on Thursday, is part of the National Assembly’s broader effort to strengthen the credibility of elections and reduce the recurring challenges of cost, logistics, and low voter turnout that have plagued Nigeria’s democracy since 1999.
According to Abbas, staggering elections across several weeks — as currently practised — has often led to bloated costs and over-stretched security operations. By holding all elections on the same day, he argued, resources would be better managed while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would face fewer logistical burdens.
“In our own thinking, it will help to reduce our electoral process, particularly on the turnout of voters,” Abbas said. “We believe that the credibility of elections will be improved when Nigerians vote for all categories of leaders in a single exercise.”
Supporters of the proposal also contend that shorter election cycles would reduce political tension, limit opportunities for electoral manipulation, and encourage greater public participation.
The proposal is part of ongoing constitutional amendment efforts by the 10th National Assembly. Other suggested reforms include: Reserved seats for women and persons with disabilities to improve representation; Financial autonomy and more defined roles for traditional rulers within governance structures, and Strengthening INEC’s independence by providing legal and financial backing for efficient operations.
Abbas urged the European Union to support the legislature’s push with advocacy, civic education, and international best practices, stressing that cooperation with civil society and state assemblies would be crucial in driving acceptance of the reforms.
Efforts to legislate same-day elections are not new. Previous attempts in past assemblies faced resistance, with critics arguing that a single-day process could overwhelm INEC and disenfranchise voters in areas with difficult terrain or weak infrastructure.
However, with rising concerns about the cost of Nigeria’s elections — the 2023 general election cost the country over ₦350 billion — proponents insist that reform is long overdue. They also argue that advancements in technology, such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), make it more feasible today than in previous years.
Still, the proposal will need to scale significant hurdles. Because it involves amending the 1999 Constitution, approval will not only be required from both chambers of the National Assembly but also from at least 24 out of the 36 state houses of assembly.
With the 2027 general election barely two years away, observers say the window for implementing sweeping reforms is narrow. Abbas, however, assured that lawmakers are determined to complete the constitutional review process in time to allow INEC to prepare adequately.
“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,” he said.
Civil society organisations have welcomed the discussion but urged caution. Groups such as the Transition Monitoring Group (TMG) and Yiaga Africa have long campaigned for electoral reforms, but they warn that compressing Nigeria’s complex election cycle into a single day must be accompanied by significant investment in electoral infrastructure, staff training, and public awareness.
For now, the proposal has reignited debate about how best to balance cost, credibility, and inclusiveness in Africa’s largest democracy. Whether it succeeds will depend not just on legislative will but also on the readiness of state assemblies and electoral institutions to embrace change.