Nigeria: Lawmaker urges single-day poll in 2027, seeks Electoral Act amendment

Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, is advocating for a significant change to Nigeria's electoral process: consolidating all federal and state elections into a single day in 2027. Dasuki believes this move would not only streamline the electoral calendar but also yield substantial economic benefits for the nation.

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Addressing the youths, the lawmaker said conducting the 2027 general election on a single day would save the country huge economic losses arising from the disruption of socio-economic activities associated with a staggered general election.

Dasuki's proposal stems from a desire to mitigate the economic disruptions and financial strain associated with staggered elections. He argues that conducting elections over multiple days incurs significant costs, including allowances for electoral personnel, security agencies, and logistical expenses. A single election day, he contends, would drastically reduce these costs, freeing up much-needed funds for other critical national needs that directly impact citizens' welfare.

Beyond the economic advantages, Dasuki also pointed to the logistical and security benefits of a unified election day. The current arrangement requires citizens and election participants to undertake multiple trips, which can be burdensome and potentially risky, especially given Nigeria's security challenges. Consolidating the elections would mean fewer travel requirements, thereby reducing exposure to risks and simplifying the overall election process.

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He argued that a one-day election would also significantly reduce the financial burden on government, as allowances and other expenses for ad hoc electoral personnel, security agencies and other election-related logistics would be incurred for only one day instead of two separate election days.

Furthermore, Dasuki highlighted a specific concern regarding Section 63 (2) of the Electoral Act. He warned that this provision, which allows for the counting of ballot papers without the prescribed official mark under certain circumstances, could potentially undermine the integrity of the 2027 general election. His call for a single election day is thus coupled with a plea for electoral reforms to ensure a more efficient, cost-effective, and secure electoral process.

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Dasuki urged INEC to merge the federal and state elections and conduct them in either January or February 2027.