THE House of Representatives is proposing a landmark change to Nigeria’s electoral process by recommending that all five categories of elections presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly be conducted on the same day starting from the 2027 general elections.
News Point Nigeria reports that the proposal forms part of a new legislation titled Electoral Act 2025, which aims to repeal the existing 2022 version and introduce significant reforms to the electoral system.
1. One-Day Voting for All Elections
The bill seeks to consolidate all major elections into a single day, eliminating staggered polls. According to Clause 27, general elections must take place not earlier than 210 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of current officeholders.
2. Tougher Regulations on Campaign Finance
The proposal also aims to limit election spending, with the following ceilings:
Presidential: ₦10 billion
Governorship: ₦3 billion
Senate: ₦500 million
House of Reps: ₦250 million
State Assembly/Chairmanship: ₦30 million
Councillorship: ₦10 million
Donations to candidates are capped at ₦500 million per donor, to promote transparency and reduce money politics.
3. New Party Registration Fee Set at ₦50 Million
Political associations will be required to pay ₦50 million to be registered as a party. False declarations by such groups could attract fines up to ₦20 million or jail terms for principal officers.
4. No More By-Elections for Vacant Legislative Seats
In a bid to curb the costs and frequency of by-elections, the House proposes that a political party whose candidate resigns, dies, or is incapacitated should nominate a replacement within 60 days — who would then be sworn in without a by-election, pending INEC ratification.
5. Earlier Primaries and Candidate List Submission
Political parties must submit the list of their candidates to INEC 210 days before the general election, including affidavits affirming the candidate’s constitutional eligibility.
Voters can present digital voter cards with QR codes, National ID numbers, or other verified IDs. Accreditation will rely on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) or its technological successor.
Election results must be transmitted both electronically and manually, with stiff penalties for non-compliance, including ₦500,000 fines or 6-month imprisonment for erring presiding officers.
Collation officers must confirm that the number of accredited voters matches BVAS records and polling unit transmissions before announcing results.
The bill aims to cut delays in election petitions, setting strict timelines:
Petitions must be filed within 21 days after result declaration.
Judgment must be delivered within 90 days of filing.
Appeals must be resolved within 60 days.
Pre-election cases must be concluded within 90 days, with appeals filed within 14 days.
The law also forbids courts from halting primaries or elections during litigation and allows fines of ₦10 million on petitioners who file frivolous suits outside permitted grounds.
No PVC Mandate: While silent on mandatory PVC use, the law emphasizes verifiable digital IDs and biometric devices.
No Room for Impostors: False qualifications by candidates attract ₦5 million fines or disqualification.
Early Voting for Security Personnel and INEC Staff: A special early voting procedure will be created for essential personnel but they cannot vote again on election day.
Political Appointees Banned from Voting in Primaries: Only elected or ordinary party members can serve as delegates in nomination conventions.
While some analysts have hailed the one-day voting plan as cost-effective and capable of reducing voter fatigue, others warn that the logistical and security challenges of synchronizing all elections nationwide could overwhelm INEC.
INEC is yet to comment on the feasibility of the proposals, but the bill sponsored by House Committee Chairman on Electoral Matters, Hon. Bayo Balogun (APC, Lagos) has already passed its Second Reading and is being prepared for further legislative review.