The House of Representatives has moved forward with a significant proposal that could change Nigeria’s electoral calendar. A bill that seeks to merge the dates for presidential, gubernatorial, National and State Assembly elections, as well as local government polls, has passed the second reading at a plenary session on Tuesday. If passed into law, this change would lead to all elections being held on the same day, a move aimed at streamlining the electoral process.
The bill, which was introduced by the Chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business, Hon. Francis Waive, alongside Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere and 34 other co-sponsors, was among 39 constitutional amendment bills discussed in the session. The bill proposes that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) set a single date for the conduct of all the elections, a shift from the current practice where presidential and National Assembly elections are held on one day, while gubernatorial, state assembly, and local government elections take place on separate days.
The main objective behind the proposed legislation is to ensure a more efficient electoral process, reduce election-related costs, and avoid the long gaps between different electoral events. Under the current Electoral Act of 2022, the presidential and National Assembly elections are held on the same day, while gubernatorial, state assembly, and local government elections are scheduled separately by INEC.
The proponents of this new bill argue that holding all elections on the same day would not only reduce the financial burden on both the government and voters, but also streamline the entire process. By aligning the dates, the House believes the nation can witness a more unified and seamless election period, potentially boosting voter turnout and increasing participation in the democratic process.
In a related move, the House also approved a second reading of a bill seeking to address the timelines for appeals arising from election petitions. The new proposal calls for all election-related appeals to be resolved before the swearing-in of elected officials. This includes the President-elect, Vice President-elect, and members-elect of both the National and State Assemblies.
Sponsored by Mansur Manu Soro, the bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to Provide for the Determination of All Appeals Arising from Election Petition Tribunals Prior to the Swearing-in of Elected Officials” proposes an amendment to Section 285 of the 1999 Constitution.
Under the proposed amendment, all appeals from election petition tribunals regarding the presidential, governorship, and legislative elections will be required to be resolved by appellate courts before the winners are officially sworn into office. This move is seen as an effort to ensure that any electoral disputes are addressed in a timely manner and do not delay the assumption of office by elected officials.
Another significant development in the ongoing constitutional reforms is a proposal to make the Court of Appeal the final arbiter in disputes arising from National Assembly and governorship elections. Currently, the Supreme Court is the final authority in determining the validity of governorship elections, while the Court of Appeal serves as the ultimate court for disputes involving National and State Assembly elections.
Sponsored by Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi, the bill seeks to alter Section 233 of the Constitution to shift the final jurisdiction in gubernatorial election disputes from the Supreme Court to the Court of Appeal. According to the bill’s proponents, this shift will ensure a more accessible and efficient legal process, as the Court of Appeal is already heavily involved in determining cases related to National and State Assembly elections.
Supporters argue that placing the final authority for governorship election disputes in the hands of the Court of Appeal will ease the burden on the Supreme Court, which is currently overwhelmed with cases from various areas of law. It is also seen as a means to expedite the resolution of election-related cases, ensuring that the electoral process is concluded in a timely manner.
In addition to the above reforms, the House of Representatives has also passed a bill for the creation of the National Local Government Electoral Commission. This proposed body would be responsible for organizing and overseeing local government elections across the country, including in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The bill, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu and six other lawmakers, aims to ensure that local government elections are free, fair, and credible.
Currently, the responsibility for conducting local government elections rests with state electoral commissions. However, there are concerns about the credibility of these elections, with critics arguing that state governments often influence the process to favor their political interests. The proposed National Local Government Electoral Commission is intended to promote transparency and fairness, making local government elections more democratic and independent from state-level political interference.
The creation of the commission would also help standardize the process for local government elections across the country, ensuring that elections are conducted according to uniform guidelines. This move is expected to strengthen democratic governance at the grassroots level and improve local governance by ensuring that elected officials are truly representative of the people.
The House has also taken steps to alter the 1999 Constitution to ensure greater transparency in the ratification of treaties between Nigeria and other countries. A bill sponsored by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu proposes that any treaty entered into by Nigeria with another country must be presented to the National Assembly for ratification within 180 days.
Currently, the Executive is not required to present treaties to the National Assembly for ratification within a specific time frame, leading to concerns about lack of oversight. The proposed amendment aims to increase legislative involvement in foreign affairs and ensure that treaties entered into by the Nigerian government are in line with the country’s interests and democratic values.
The passage of these bills represents a significant step in the ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s electoral system and ensure that the country’s democratic processes are more transparent, efficient, and accountable. If these proposals are eventually passed into law, they could have a far-reaching impact on the way elections are conducted and disputes are resolved in the country.
However, the bills still have a long way to go before they become law. They will now be referred to the Committee on Constitution Review for further consideration, and, if approved, they will proceed to the Senate before being put to a national referendum. The outcome of these reforms could have profound implications for Nigeria’s electoral future and its political landscape.
