The National Assembly has proposed that Nigeria’s next presidential and governorship elections be held in November 2026 — about six months earlier than the usual February or March of the election year.
This proposal is part of new amendments to the Electoral Act 2022, discussed on Monday during a public hearing by the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters. The committee is chaired by Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South).
The suggested change aims to ensure all court cases related to elections are settled before winners are sworn into office. According to the proposed Section 4(7) of the amended Electoral Act, elections for president and governors must take place at least 185 days before the end of the current term, which ends on May 29, 2027. This places the next elections in November 2026.
House Committee on Electoral Matters Chairman, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, explained that the move would prevent the current issue of prolonged election disputes dragging into new administrations.
“We are proposing that all election litigations be concluded before the swearing-in of winners,” Balogun said. He added that tribunal judgments should be completed within 90 days, while appeals and Supreme Court cases should each take no more than 60 days — all within the 185-day window before inauguration.
To support this timeline, lawmakers also plan to amend parts of the 1999 Constitution, including Sections 285 and 139.
Stakeholders at the hearing, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) represented by Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, welcomed the proposals. They also supported the push for electronic voting and electronic transmission of results.
Under the proposed Section 60(5), INEC officers would be required to transmit election results both manually and electronically. Any failure to do so could result in a fine of ₦1 million, a one-year jail term, or both.
Another key reform is the introduction of early voting. Security personnel, INEC staff, accredited journalists, observers, and ad-hoc workers would be allowed to vote up to 14 days before the general election.
The lawmakers also suggested removing election dates from the Constitution and placing them in the Electoral Act instead. This would make future changes easier without the need for constitutional amendments.
Overall, stakeholders described the proposals as timely and necessary to improve transparency and reduce legal battles after elections.
