Reps mull same-day elections for presidential, governorship, legislative offices

Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the house of representatives, says parliament is considering a constitutional amendment that would allow all elections to be conducted on the same day.

Currently, the presidential and national assembly elections are held on the same day, while the governorship and state house of assembly polls are conducted on a different day.

Speaking on Thursday in Abuja, when he received a delegation from the European Union, Abbas said holding all elections on the same day would enhance credibility and tackle lower voter turnout.

Abbas said the house is committed to far-reaching electoral reforms, noting that the proposed constitutional amendments cover reserved seats for women and persons with disabilities, financial autonomy and defined roles for traditional rulers, and the conduct of all national elections on a single day, among others.

“Like the single-day election, it is to hold the election of the president, national assembly membership, governorship and state house of assembly membership elections on the same day,” he said.

“In our own thinking, it will help to reduce our electoral process, particularly on the turnout of voters.”

Abbas urged the EU delegation to support the national assembly with advocacy and publicity, highlighting that state assemblies must also endorse the proposed reforms.

“We will do all the needful as far as legislation is concerned to enable INEC to have all the necessary tools and provisions to make the 2027 election much better than the 2023 election,” he said.

The national assembly is currently amending the 1999 constitution and is expected to vote on the alteration bills this month.

Attempts in previous assemblies to pass the bill for same-day elections hit a brick wall.(The Cable)