The House of Representatives is exploring a proposal to hold Nigeria’s presidential, governorship, and legislative elections on a single day, as part of ongoing efforts to reform the country’s electoral system.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas disclosed the plan during a meeting with a European Union delegation in Abuja on Thursday. He said the proposal is intended to improve efficiency, reduce costs, boost voter turnout, and enhance the credibility of elections.
Under the proposal, presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and State Assembly elections would no longer be staggered over several weeks but conducted simultaneously. Supporters argue that this approach would lower election costs, ease logistical and security challenges, reduce political tension, and encourage greater voter participation.
Abbas emphasized that the House is committed to wide-ranging electoral reforms, which also include provisions for reserved seats for women and persons with disabilities, financial autonomy for traditional institutions, and clearly defined roles for traditional rulers.
“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 thinking, it will help to reduce the length of the electoral process and improve voter turnout.”
He urged the EU delegation to support advocacy and publicity for the reforms, noting that state assemblies must also endorse the proposed changes.
“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,” Abbas added.
The National Assembly is currently amending the 1999 constitution, with votes on the proposed alterations expected this month.
