The Senate has given a second reading to a bill that would allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold general elections on the same day.
The bill which seeks to change the Electoral Act 2022 would look to reduce the cost of elections, shorten campaign
durations, and permit elected officials to participate as ad hoc delegates at party congresses.
Senator Saliu Mustapha, who led the discussion on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, emphasised the
unaffordable expense of elections, which has increased from ₦1.5 billion in 1999 to ₦350 billion in 2023.
He underscored that staggered elections are expensive, inefficient, and contribute to voter fatigue.
He said that the current staggered election process is a major financial burden, adding that holding all elections on
the same day will save costs, improve voter turnout, and reduce political tension.
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While the proposal received strong backing from several senators, some lawmakers expressed concerns over the
capacity of INEC to handle nationwide elections in a single day.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole cautioned against rushing into the reform without ensuring INEC’s readiness.
He stated that the “bill has good intentions, but we must ask: Is INEC equipped to conduct all elections in one day?
We must also consider the confusion that multiple ballot papers could create, especially for illiterate voters.”
The Senate is expected to subject it to further scrutiny in the coming weeks.
