The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow all elections—presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state assembly, and local government—to be held on the same day.
The bill, sponsored by Imo lawmaker Ikenga Ugochinyere and 35 others, was presented during plenary by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.
A copy of the bill obtained by The PUNCH proposes an amendment to Section 116 of the Constitution by inserting a new subsection (3), which states:
“All elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and Local Government Area Councils shall hold simultaneously on the same date to be determined by the Independent National Electoral Commission in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.”
A similar amendment is proposed for Section 132, adding a new paragraph (a) to subsection (1), reinforcing the requirement for elections to be conducted concurrently.
During the session, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the proceedings, called for a voice vote, and lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill. It was then referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative consideration.
The bill, if passed into law, would mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s electoral process, potentially streamlining logistics and reducing costs associated with staggered elections. However, it is expected to spark further debate on its feasibility and implications for the country’s electoral system.
