2027: N’Assembly Seeks Early Elections

Proposed Electoral Act Amendment to Change Election Timeline

The National Assembly has proposed an amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, aiming to change the timeline for conducting presidential and governorship elections. The amendment suggests that these elections should be held six months before the expiration of the current incumbents’ terms. If passed and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, this could shift the next general elections from February and March 2027 to November 2026.

This proposal was revealed during a public hearing in Abuja, where stakeholders including lawmakers, political parties, civil society organizations (CSOs), and electoral experts made extensive submissions. The hearing, organized by the National Assembly Joint Committees on Electoral Matters in collaboration with the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), focused on reviewing the amendment of the Electoral Act.

According to the draft, the new provision would require elections for the president and governors to be conducted “not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.” This also extends to elections for the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly, which must now be held “not later than 185 days before the date on which each of the Houses stands dissolved.”

Where a vacancy occurs in any of the Houses more than 90 days before the general elections, such vacancy must be filled within 30 days of its occurrence. The amendment also seeks to align the new electoral calendar with constitutional changes to Sections 76, 116, 132, and 178, which now delegate election timelines to the Electoral Act rather than the Constitution.

Criticism of the Extended Election Timeline

However, the proposal has faced criticism. Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), criticized the plan to hold elections six months before the end of tenure, calling it “unnecessary and potentially counterproductive.” He warned that the change could undermine the integrity of the process, allowing incumbents to use the extended transition period to frustrate successors.

Rafsanjani argued that an extended gap between elections and inauguration could heighten political tension and policy confusion. “Having such a wide period creates room for manipulation. Nigerians already have deep mistrust in the system. Extending the calendar will only worsen it,” he said. He compared Nigeria’s situation to the United States, where elections are held in November and the new administration takes over in January, ensuring a smooth and accountable transition.

Key Highlights of the Proposed Electoral Bill 2025

The proposed Electoral Bill 2025 includes several key highlights. It recognizes voting rights for inmates and obligates INEC to register eligible prisoners. The bill introduces digital voter identification through electronically generated voter cards with QR codes. It also proposes tougher sanctions for electoral offenses, including mandatory prison terms for falsifying results or obstructing election officials.

Other provisions include an expanded delegate framework for indirect primaries to standardize internal party representation, mandatory financial audits for INEC within six months of each financial year to promote transparency, and higher campaign spending and donation limits to reflect current economic realities.

The draft also provides for early voting for Nigerians whose official duties prevent them from voting on election day. Section 44(1) of the proposed Act stipulates that a date shall be set aside for early voting not later than 14 days before the main election. Security personnel, accredited journalists, INEC officials, domestic observers, and ad hoc staff are among those eligible.

In line with an existing court judgment mandating INEC to make provisions for prison voting, the bill further states that inmates shall be regarded as ordinary residents of the place where they are lawfully imprisoned or detained.

Another major amendment is in Section 65(2), which empowers INEC to review any declaration or return within seven days if it receives credible reports that such declaration was made under duress or contrary to established procedures.

Stakeholders Push for Electronic Transmission

Stakeholders at the hearing reiterated calls for compulsory electronic transmission of results in the next general elections. Some participants also urged the National Assembly to adopt the recommendations of the Justice Mohammed Uwais 2008 Presidential Electoral Reform Committee.

However, the proposed bill does not explicitly mandate electronic transmission, as the term “transmit” is defined to include both manual and electronic means. Professor Abiodun Amuda-Kannike (SAN) insisted on “real-time transmission of results” to ensure credibility, adding that electronic voting should replace manual systems, while state electoral commissions should be scrapped.

Representatives of civil society organizations also pressed for mandatory electronic transmission of results by INEC to enhance transparency. Dr Akin Akingbulu, speaking on behalf of the CSOs, said ambiguity around the current provisions must be eliminated to avoid future controversy.

Involvement of Key Figures and INEC

Speaking at the hearing, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, emphasized that the amendment process was vital to Nigeria’s democratic evolution. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the House Majority Leader, Hon Julius Ihonvbere, assured that the National Assembly would complete work on the amendment early enough for presidential assent ahead of the next general elections.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong, stated that the proposal aimed to address challenges experienced during the 2023 general and off-cycle elections. He added that the new Act was designed to serve the collective interest of Nigerians and not any political party.

INEC representative and National Commissioner, Professor Abdullahi Abdul Zuru, outlined the commission’s 75 observations and 142 recommendations from its post-election review of the 2023 polls. He mentioned considerations for diaspora voting and early voting for Nigerians deployed on election duty, including security personnel and election officials.

International Support for Electoral Reforms

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) representative, Cynthia Roll, reaffirmed her country’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s ongoing electoral reform process. She described it as a critical step toward a more transparent and credible democracy.

Roll praised the National Assembly’s efforts and highlighted the importance of public hearings in shaping the nation’s electoral laws. She urged lawmakers to ensure that credibility and inclusiveness remain at the core of the reforms.