The Nigerian Senate has progressed a bill proposing amendments to the Electoral Act 2022, aiming to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct all general elections on a single day. This initiative seeks to address escalating election costs, streamline campaign periods, and permit elected officials to serve as ad hoc delegates in party conventions.
During the bill’s second reading, Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, highlighted the unsustainable rise in election expenditures—from ₦1.5 billion in 1999 to ₦350 billion in 2023. He emphasized that staggered elections contribute to inefficiencies and voter fatigue, asserting that consolidating elections would reduce costs, enhance voter turnout, and alleviate political tensions. T
While the proposal garnered support, some senators expressed reservations about INEC’s capacity to manage nationwide elections in a single day. Senator Adams Oshiomhole cautioned against hasty implementation without ensuring INEC’s preparedness, noting potential challenges such as voter confusion due to multiple ballot papers, especially among illiterate populations.
The bill has been forwarded to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for further evaluation and is slated for additional scrutiny in the forthcoming weeks.
