In a bold shake-up of Nigeria’s electoral calendar, the National Assembly has proposed shifting the 2027 presidential and governorship elections to November 2026, about six months ahead of the usual schedule.
The proposal was unveiled at a public hearing convened by the Joint Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters, where the draft amendments to the Electoral Act were laid bare.
Under the plan, polls for president and governors would be held not later than 185 days before the outgoing term expires, placing the elections in November 2026.
Key reforms on the table includes:
– Shortened litigation timelines: Tribunal rulings reduced from 180 to 90 days; appeals from 90 to 60 days, all within a 185‑day window.
– Mandatory e‑transmission of results: The draft mandates that presiding officers transmit results electronically (and manually), with stiff penalties for noncompliance.
– Early voting: Certain groups, security personnel, INEC officials, observers, journalists, would be allowed to vote up to 14 days before election day.
Hon. Adebayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, explains that the aim is to clear electoral disputes before inauguration day, thus avoiding the recurrent overlap of court cases with new administrations.
At the hearing, INEC’s representative, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, threw support behind the proposed changes, particularly the push for electronic voting and result transmission.
Several civil society groups and political actors also hailed the reforms as much‑needed steps toward greater electoral credibility.
However, the proposal is not without controversy. Critics warn of constitutional hurdles and implementation challenges, especially in regions with weak infrastructure or security constraints.
If adopted into law, these changes would reset Nigeria’s political calendar, giving more breathing room for dispute resolution, reducing election stress on the courts and potentially redefining how Nigerians conduct and perceive elections.
