A fresh legislative bid by the National Assembly to amend the 2022 Electoral Act, including a proposal to move the 2027 presidential and governorship elections forward by several months, has sharply divided Nigeria’s opposition parties.
The contentious proposal, currently part of a draft amendment, seeks to shift the traditional February or March election date to November 2026. While proponents argue the move will strengthen the electoral system, opponents describe it as a veiled attempt to extend the political advantage of the incumbent administration.
Rationale: Resolving Disputes Before Swearing-in
The core objective of moving the polls is to allow sufficient time for all pre- and post-election litigations to be fully concluded before the May 29, 2027, handover date.
The proposed amendment introduces a critical new deadline:
- 185-Day Rule: Section 4(7) of the draft stipulates that presidential and gubernatorial elections must be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of the incumbent’s term. Counting backward from the May 29, 2027, inauguration date places the election precisely in November 2026—roughly six months earlier than the current schedule.
- Faster Judgments: To facilitate this, the House Committee on Electoral Matters, led by Adebayo Balogun, also proposed cutting the 180-day tribunal judgment window to 90 days, with all appeal stages mandated to conclude within the 185-day period.
Lawmakers argued this adjustment would finally end the practice of swearing in elected officials whose victories remain contested in court. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly backed the shift, citing transparency and efficiency.
Other Key Amendments Proposed
The draft bill includes several other major changes aimed at reforming electoral processes:
- Mandatory Electronic Transmission: Section 60(5) provides that presiding officers must transmit results and the total number of accredited voters both electronically and manually—imposing penalties for non-compliance.
- Early Voting: A new Section 2 creates a provision for early voting, allowing accredited observers, security personnel, election officials, journalists, and ad hoc staff to vote up to 14 days before the main election day.
- Non-Compulsory PVC Use: The amendment also introduces a provision that makes the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) non-compulsory.
- Single-Day Polls: The move follows a previous push by lawmakers for a constitutional amendment to hold all elections (presidential, governorship, and legislative) on a single day in 2027.
Opposition Parties Split Over Motive
The proposal has drawn sharp, conflicting reactions from opposition ranks, primarily concerning the timing and motive behind the extensive amendments.
Cautions and Accusations
Leading voices from the opposition accused the ruling party of seeking partisan advantage:
- People’s Democratic Party (PDP): Timothy Osadolor, the Deputy National Youth Leader, outright accused the National Assembly of attempting to “buy more time” for President Bola Tinubu, calling the move “ill-timed.” He stressed that Nigerians are primarily concerned with ensuring the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and real-time electronic transmission are constitutionally guaranteed.
- New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP): National Publicity Secretary Ladipo Johnson warned the early date would disadvantage the opposition, stating, “Personally, I feel that it is a way to hoodwink the opposition.” He suggested that the incumbent government would be better prepared for a November 2026 election, forcing other parties back to the drawing board prematurely.
Support and Calls for Consultation
Conversely, some opposition figures and affiliated groups saw merit in the proposal:
- Labour Party (LP): A factional spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, supported the proposal, emphasizing that holding all elections on the same day would save costs, reduce tension, and allow ample time for all litigations to be resolved before the swearing-in ceremony.
- African Democratic Congress (ADC): The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, adopted a cautious approach, stating the party would only issue an official reaction after thoroughly reviewing the final draft amendment.
- Obidient Movement: Dr. Yunusa Tanko, National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, urged the lawmakers to subject the plan to broader public opinion and consultation, cautioning the Assembly against acting solely in self-interest.
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