2027: Single day general elections cost-effective, curb waste, stakeholders advocate

…We can’t do it alone – INEC

Ahead of 2027 general elections, some stakeholders in election process and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have advocated for a single day election in Nigeria.

They believed that such innovative, as being practice in other developed countries, will save Nigeria unnecessary losses, cost-effective and curb waste among others.

Speaking Friday in Abuja, at a Policy Dialogue on single day election in Nigeria organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, a political scientist and lecturer at the Nile University, Abuja, Dr. Iroro S. Izu, said countries like United States of America (USA), Brazil and India, among others have long embraced such practice of conducting their elections on a single day.

According to him, taking into account how much INEC spends to conduct one general election, plus what Nigerians lose economically, it is safe to say that it becomes a fool’s paradise to continue in this charade. This is not to add the non-material, socio-psychological trauma faced by Nigerians as a result of sustained heated political environment.

He said: “This initiative will save government’s funds, Saves the economy of unnecessary losses, stop subtle disenfranchisement via the bandwagon effect.

“It also show national seriousness, curb waste of time, energy, and manpower, arrest electoral fraud and prevent undue heating up of the polity.

Nigerian Government must be bold to take the bull by the horn and think more efficiently, effectively optimally, cost-effectively an patriotically.”

In his submission, pioneer Executive Director of Centre LSD, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, said majority of speakers at the dialogue agreed that elections should be held in Nigeria on a single day.

Dr. Igbuzor said: “So for us, this is a start of a process, we will appeal to the resource person to convert the presentation into policy brief which we will use to engage INEC, political parties, politician and stakeholders to further explore the possibility of a single day election in Nigeria.

“Nigeria has been lucky to have 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, we must all protect it and the way to protect it is to strengthen democracy by ensuring that there is a credible electoral process. We are committed to contributing to that process.”

Also speaking, the Executive Director of Partners for Electoral Reforms, Chief Ezenwa Nwagwu, expressed concerns about the level of literacy in Nigeria, adding that topography of countries like USA, Brazil and India are not as that of Nigeria.

He said in place like Taraba state, from Jalingo there are places you will go that take you almost seven hours.

“In Kebbi state, there are places you will go to by the time your vehicle stops, you used carmel and after that you use motorcycle to get to those places. So we’re not the same with USA, in dealing with those challenges we need to contextualise our environment we are living.

“What I’m saying is that there is need for deeper reflection so that we don’t get excited without taking into cognizance the political environment, the culture of the politicians we are dealing with, how they react and our own people because at the end of the day we see election as a bazar. For me it has to do with nature and character of our politics.”

However, the representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the dialogue and Director of Operation, Adigun Hakeem, said the Electoral umpire position on the issue until the National Assembly gives consent.

Hakeem said: “INEC as a governing body, we cannot take a position on these issues for now. INEC’s primary assignment is to conduct free, fair and credible elections. All activities and guidelines are being spelt out by the National Assembly. So we don’t take a position.

“At the end of today’s meeting, the decision we arrive at will be submitted to the commission. We are here to participate and to listen to your position. As we are here, we are listening to your advocacy. Our interest is to be fair and conduct free and credible elections.

At INEC, after every general election we go back to the drawing board, to review the election. Like this last 2023 election, the review report just came. For all the elections like the National Assembly and presidency and followed by the state assembly and governorship, all the issues that came out during the last election are reviewed so that we improve on future elections.

“INEC cannot do it alone, all the stakeholders in election matters must come together and by the grace of God, we will submit the report of today’s meeting to the commission.”