Nigerian Rep urges single-day 2027 election, warns of Electoral Act loophole

Lawmaker Abdussamad Dasuki, Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, is advocating for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct the 2027 general election on a single day. He argues that consolidating federal and state elections would significantly reduce economic losses stemming from the disruption of socio-economic activities typically associated with staggered elections.

Dasuki also raised a critical concern regarding Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act. He warned that this provision could potentially undermine the integrity of the upcoming election by permitting the counting of ballot papers that lack the prescribed official mark of the electoral commission under specific circumstances. This, he believes, opens a loophole for electoral malpractice.

“

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 staggered general election.

Speaking at a meeting with youths from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who congratulated him on his emergence as deputy minority leader, Dasuki emphasized the financial benefits of a one-day election. He stated it would substantially lessen the financial burden on the government by reducing expenses for ad hoc electoral personnel, security agencies, and other logistics, which are currently incurred over multiple days.

“

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 the security implications of staggered elections in Nigeria. He noted that combining the elections would minimize the number of election-related trips Nigerians and other participants would need to undertake, which is particularly important given the country's security challenges. Under the current arrangement, individuals might have to travel twice for federal and state elections, whereas a single election day would require only one journey.

Dasuki urged INEC to merge the federal and state elections, proposing either January or February 2027 as the timeframe. He believes INEC possesses the capacity to manage the five ballot papers required for presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship, and State House of Assembly elections efficiently, provided adequate preparations are made. He also pointed out that the existence of eight off-cycle governorship elections makes a single-day election even more practicable, as ballot papers would be reduced to four in those specific states.

“

Section 63 (2) of the Electoral Act which, he warned, could potentially compromise the integrity of the 2027 general election by allowing ballot papers without the prescribed official mark of the electoral commission to be counted under certain circumstances.