The Nigerian Senate has proposed to amend Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022 and introduce same-day elections nationwide, to cut costs and curtail voter apathy.
The proposal is gaining traction among voters, civil society organizations, and political analysts who believe the reform could significantly reduce electoral malpractice.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Saliu Mustapha (Kwara Central), has already passed a second reading in the Senate, with widespread support from lawmakers who argue that Nigeria’s staggered election process is inefficient, expensive, and vulnerable to manipulation.
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Mustapha highlighted that Nigeria’s election costs have skyrocketed from N1.5 billion in 1999 to N350 billion in 2023, calling the trend unsustainable. He also stressed that holding all elections on the same day would increase voter participation, reduce political tension, and prevent a scenario where parties that lose one election manipulate subsequent ones.
But while the idea is generating enthusiasm, concerns remain about whether the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the capacity to execute elections at all levels on a single day.
Electorates Cite 2023 Lagos Elections as Case Study
The proposal has resonated deeply with many Nigerians who believe that the current staggered system enables electoral fraud. Some have pointed to the 2023 general elections in Lagos State, where the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) suffered an unexpected defeat in the presidential election but quickly regrouped to suppress voter turnout during the governorship election.
During the presidential poll, opposition parties, particularly the Labour Party (LP), secured a shock victory in Lagos, exposing weaknesses in APC’s stronghold. However, before the governorship election, the ruling party allegedly deployed thugs and security agents to intimidate and disenfranchise voters in key opposition areas.
Eyewitness reports indicated widespread voter suppression, particularly targeting areas with large populations of non-indigenous residents who had voted against the APC in the presidential election.
A video before election day also showed the then head of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), popularly known as MC-Oluomo, warning voters not to come out unless they were prepared to vote for the ruling party. Many polling units in opposition strongholds recorded low turnout, partly due to fear of violence.
Against this backdrop, advocates of the bill argue that consolidating all elections into a single day would prevent politicians from adjusting their rigging strategies between election rounds. Under the current system, parties that perform poorly in early elections can use the interval before subsequent ones to deploy vote suppression tactics, bribe electoral officers, or influence security agencies.
Concerns Over INEC’s Capacity
Although the bill has garnered broad support, some lawmakers have expressed doubts about whether INEC has the logistical ability to manage a nationwide election covering presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state assembly seats on the same day.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole warned that such a large-scale election would require major structural improvements in voter education, logistics, security, and election management.
“While the bill has good intentions, we must ensure that INEC is adequately prepared for the enormous task of conducting elections for all levels of government in one day,” Oshiomhole stated.
Others have raised concerns about potential voter confusion, especially in rural areas where many voters are less familiar with complex ballot systems. Managing multiple ballots for different positions on the same day could slow down voting and increase the risk of errors.
However, supporters of the bill pointed out that other countries—such as the United States, India, and Brazil—have successfully implemented same-day elections, demonstrating that with proper planning, Nigeria could do the same.
Will the Bill Pass?
With its passage for second reading, the bill is set to undergo further legislative scrutiny in the coming weeks. Lawmakers will debate the feasibility of its implementation, potential modifications to the existing electoral framework, and strategies for enhancing INEC’s capacity.
If passed, it would mark one of the most significant electoral reforms in Nigeria’s history, addressing long-standing concerns about election cost, manipulation, and voter disenfranchisement.
Nigerians are expressing optimism that the change will be adopted, believing that it will enhance democratic integrity, reduce political violence, and prevent the kind of post-election suppression seen in Lagos and other states.