Abuja — The Nigerian House of Representatives has unveiled a significant proposal that could see all five major elections in 2027 conducted on a single day by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This proposal forms part of the sweeping reforms outlined in the draft Electoral Act 2025, currently under legislative consideration.
Traditionally, Nigeria’s general elections are spread over several weeks or months, with presidential and National Assembly elections held first, followed by gubernatorial and State Houses of Assembly contests on different days, sometimes weeks apart. Under the proposed reform, the presidential, National Assembly, gubernatorial, State Houses of Assembly, and local government elections would all take place simultaneously.
Advocates of the reform argue the single-day election approach will bring multiple benefits. These include significant cost savings due to reduced logistics, personnel, and security expenditures, as well as enhanced security by shortening the election period, which is often marred by violence. Additionally, by requiring voters to turn out only once, electoral participation could increase, and the electoral process could become more streamlined and efficient, allowing for quicker collation and announcement of results.
However, the plan is not without challenges. Conducting multiple elections simultaneously poses logistical complexities, including the need for intricate ballot designs and extensive voter education. There are also concerns over the capacity of INEC to manage timely vote counting and result declarations, given the volume of data to be processed on a single day. The measure would also necessitate heightened training of electoral officers and increased availability of materials.
Political analysts and civil society groups have offered mixed reactions, with some welcoming the cost-effectiveness and potential security improvements, while others urge caution due to Nigeria’s existing infrastructural and operational constraints.
The proposed Electoral Act 2025 represents one of the most comprehensive overhauls of Nigeria’s electoral system in recent years. If passed, it could mark a transformative step in the country’s democratic process by reforming how elections are conducted, aiming to enhance transparency, reduce electoral disputes, and improve overall governance.
INEC and other stakeholders will now considered the proposal’s feasibility and implementation strategy in the lead-up to 2027, seeking to address concerns before adopting this ambitious election timetable.
