Reps advances bill to hold all elections on the same day

The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to mandate that all elections—presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state assembly, and local government—be conducted on the same day.

The bill, sponsored by Imo lawmaker Ikenga Ugochinyere and 35 others, was presented during plenary on Tuesday by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported it when Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu put it to a voice vote. It has now been referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further consideration.

A copy of the bill obtained by The PUNCH proposes an amendment to Section 116 of the Constitution, introducing a new subsection (3), which states:

“All elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and Local Government Area Councils shall hold simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.”

Similarly, an amendment to Section 132 seeks to insert a new paragraph reinforcing this requirement.

Supporters of the bill argue that conducting all elections on the same day would reduce election costs, curb electoral violence, and enhance voter turnout. If passed into law, the amendment would significantly reshape Nigeria’s electoral process.

(With additional information from Punch Newspapers)