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.
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