The House of Representatives has advanced a bill proposing a constitutional amendment to mandate that all general elections in Nigeria be conducted on a single day.
The bill, sponsored by Imo lawmaker Ikenga Ugochinyere and 35 others, was presented during plenary on Tuesday by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. It successfully passed the second reading following overwhelming support from lawmakers.
Key Provisions of the Bill
A copy of the bill obtained by KIIN360 reveals that it seeks to amend Section 116 of the 1999 Constitution by 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.”
A corresponding amendment to Section 132 is also proposed, adding a new paragraph (a) to subsection (1), reinforcing the requirement for all elections to be held concurrently.
Legislative Progress and Next Steps
During plenary, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, called for a voice vote, and the bill received strong backing from lawmakers. It has now been referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further scrutiny and legislative processing.
The proposal, if passed, could significantly alter Nigeria’s electoral process, potentially reducing costs and enhancing voter turnout by consolidating elections into a single-day event.
Political analysts and stakeholders are expected to weigh in on the bill as it progresses through the legislative process.
