An official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged the National Assembly to discard a bill proposing the conduct of all elections in a single day.
Speaking anonymously to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja, the official warned that implementing such a bill could jeopardise the country’s electoral framework.
NAN reports that calls for sweeping electoral reforms have been gaining traction in some quarters, including suggestions to hold all five major elections — presidential, senatorial, House of Representatives, governorship, and state assembly — on the same day.
One such call came from The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen led by former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, during a recent national summit on the future of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
Similarly, the House of Representatives has incorporated the proposal into the ongoing review of the Electoral Act 2025, which has passed second reading. If passed, the amended Act would authorise INEC to conduct all elections simultaneously.
Proponents argue that the reform would reduce the risk of electoral malpractice, curb vote-buying, and make the process more efficient and cost-effective.
However, the INEC official stressed that the issue is not about the commission’s capacity, but rather the feasibility of conducting all elections in one day.
“It’s about the practicality of the concept, the purpose of this latest move and what the whole thing intends to achieve.
“What is wrong with the current method? Will conducting all elections same day guarantee credibility? Will it produce a different outcome from what we are having now?
“What is the practicality of it? Did the lawmakers seek INEC’s opinion before embarking on this move?” the official queried.