… Lawmakers Say Move Will Cut Costs, Boost Voter Turnout
… Proposal Part Of Sweeping Electoral Reforms Before Next Polls
The House of Representatives has revived debate over a proposal to hold Nigeria’s presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly elections on the same day, a reform lawmakers say could cut costs, strengthen credibility, and boost voter turnout.
Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, announced the plan on Thursday in Abuja while receiving a delegation from the European Union. He disclosed that the initiative is part of a broader package of electoral reforms the National Assembly is working on ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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,” Abbas said.
“In our own thinking, it will help to reduce our electoral process, particularly on the turnout of voters.”
Currently, Nigeria conducts staggered elections, with presidential and National Assembly polls coming first, followed by governorship and state assembly contests two weeks later.
Critics argue the practice heightens political tension, inflates costs, and overstretches security resources.
Supporters of a synchronised election believe it will reduce logistical bottlenecks, curb electoral manipulation, and build stronger public trust in the process.
Abbas added that the House is also considering other “far-reaching electoral reforms,” including: reserved seats for women and persons with disabilities; financial autonomy for state legislatures and local governments; and defined roles for traditional rulers in governance.
He urged the European Union to support the reforms through advocacy and public sensitisation, stressing that approval by state assemblies would be critical to the success of the proposals.
“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,” the Speaker assured.
The National Assembly is expected to vote later this month on constitutional alteration bills. However, similar attempts in previous assemblies to merge all elections into a single day failed to gain traction.
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