Senate proposes same day for presidential, gubernatorial, legislative elections

A bill to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct all elections on the same day has passed the second reading at the senate.

The bill, sponsored by Saliu Mustapha, the senator representing Kwara central, proposes that presidential, governorship, national, and state assembly elections be held nationwide on the same day.

The bill also seeks to ease financial and logistical pressures on political parties and candidates by shortening the campaign period.

The amendment also proposes allowing elected officials, including the president, vice-president, governors, and lawmakers, to serve as ad hoc delegates in their party congresses.

Leading the debate, Mustapha decried the rising cost of elections, noting that expenses had moved from N1.5 billion in 1999 to N350 billion in 2023.

“The current staggered election process is expensive and inefficient. Conducting all elections on the same day will save costs, boost voter participation, and reduce political tension,” he said.

“Looking at countries like the United States, India, and Brazil, where same-day elections are the norm, we can see the potential benefits for Nigeria.

“By adopting this approach, we can streamline our electoral process, making it more efficient and less costly.”

The bill received support from many senators, who agreed that holding all elections on the same day would help improve the credibility of the process.

However, some lawmakers expressed reservations regarding the INEC’s capacity to manage nationwide elections in a single day.

“While the bill has good intentions, we must ensure that INEC is adequately prepared for the enormous task of conducting elections for all levels of government in one day,” Adams Oshiomhole, senator representing Edo north, said.

“We must also consider the confusion that multiple ballot papers could create, especially among illiterate voters.”

Barau Jibrin, deputy senate president, who presided over the plenary, assured Oshiomhole that the bill would still be subjected to scrutiny at the committee level.

“We will engage with stakeholders to assess its feasibility and address any potential challenges,” Jibrin said.