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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
In the run-up to the 2027 general elections, there are efforts by the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act, as well as relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution (As amended), as part of efforts to improve the country’s electoral system.
Consequently, several bills seeking to alter different sections of the electoral law have been introduced in the House of Representatives.
However, one of the outstanding proposals is a bill seeking to alter sections of the 1999 Constitution to provide for the simultaneous conduct of presidential, governorship, national assembly, state assembly and local government elections across the country. The proposed legislation is sponsored by the member representing Ideato Federal Constituency of Imo State, Honourable Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere and 36 others.
The objectives of the bills, which is seeking alterations of Sections 76, 116, 132 and 178 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), according to the sponsors, is to “ensure that all elections in Nigeria are conducted on the same day, thereby reducing political tensions and election-related violence.” The benefits, the promoters posit, include enhancing voter turnout during elections, strengthening electoral integrity, as well as reducing financial and administrative burdens on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Presently, elections in the country are staggered with the presidential and National Assembly polls coming first and the governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls holding, usually, two weeks after. Interestingly, the sequence of elections in the country has been a source of debate within and outside the parliament, as well as a bone of contention among political actors.
However, Ugochinyere, while leading debate on the proposed legislation, recently, told the House that staggering of elections in the country leads to prolonged periods of political uncertainty, increased political tension and conflict as well unnecessary costs incurred by both political parties, candidates as well as the electoral body.
According to him, “Nigeria’s electoral system currently operates under a staggered election timetable, leading to prolonged political uncertainty, increased election-related conflicts, and unnecessary financial expenses. Conducting all elections on the same day will enhance efficiency, ensure better security management, and foster greater public confidence in the electoral process.
“Many advanced democracies, including the United States, conduct their general elections on a single day,minimising the potential for manipulation and ensuring a more coordinated election management system. This Bill seeks to bring Nigeria’s electoral process in consonance with global best practices.”
The lawmaker added that “the financial burden of conducting multiple elections over an extended period of time is immense. The proposed consolidation of elections into a single day event would lead to significant cost savings for the nation, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant security agencies would properly maximise their operational expenses, logistics, and resource deployment. In INEC v. Musa (2003) 3 NWLR (Pt. 806) 72, the Court of Appeal recognised the financial and logistical challenges faced by INEC in conducting elections and emphasised the need for an efficient and cost-effective electoral process.”
Nonetheless, there is no consensus among stakeholders on whether or not staggered elections are the best for the country. While, a school of thought shares the sentiments of Ugochinyere that simultaneous voting will rob off on elections in the country positively, another school of thought thinks otherwise.
The Executive Director, Peer Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa, Ezenwa Nwangwu told Daily Sun that there is nothing wrong with the current sequence of election. Nwangwu states that the challenge is the attitude of stakeholders, including the electorate.
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According to him, “The problem is first the attitudes of many of the stakeholders, including us the voters. Our attitude that it is a bazaar is part of the problem. Liberia is not such a big country, but they run their elections through almost a week. And election officers go home with their materials and bring them out the next day. You cannot try that here.
“The problem to many is not that elections are conducted in two days or one day. It is because of the challenge of bandwagonism. It is a problem of opposition. And if you know the fluidity of movement in Nigeria’s political system, the people who are in opposition today were once in position, where they refused to let that happen. I don’t think that there is a problem with what we have currently.”
He added that the proposal for simultaneous voting is at best niceties, noting that “for me, those are niceties. Those are nice conversations. But the practical reality of our current situation, current developmental challenges will not permit that. Your election cannot be better than your infrastructure.”
But for Ugochinyere, the “frequent electoral cycles can contribute to voter fatigue and apathy, as citizens may become discouraged due to the repeated disruptions to their daily lives. By consolidating all elections into a single event, this Bill aims to minimise these disruptions and encourage higher voter turnout by making the process more convenient for the electorate. In Nwankwo v. INEC (2010) 13 NWLR (Pt. 1212) 546, the court acknowledged the issue of voter apathy and the need for measures to enhance voter participation, which supports the rationale for consolidating elections. “
A public affairs analyst, Jide Ojo says there is no big deal about holding all elections in the country simultaneously, noting that the country has so much to gain from it. Ojo, who maintained that in other countries, elections are held in a single day, told Daily Sun that besides the cost of staggered elections, it also affects the economy of the country and disrupts the lives of the people.
“I don’t think that there is any value addition in having elections split over two weeks. This has exponentially increased the cost of conducting elections. In 2022, Kenya conducted six elections in one day. Likewise, Ghana. Likewise, South Africa. I don’t know, with the exemption of US that usually have mid term elections, two years interval, even US, I was there in 2010, do you know that outside the country, all the other elections, to the Senate, to the governorship, counties, presidential, as well as election into board of education several other elections take place simultaneously.
“I think we stand to gain a lot more(from simultaneous voting) than what we will lose. For instance, all these agitations that turnout of voters is low if you have all elections conducted in one day, I can tell you for free that the voter turnout will be above 50 percent. Because people will come out to vote for different cadres of people,” he stated.
For Ojo, “it is the same logistics that you will use to conduct two elections that you will need to conduct three elections. It is just a matter of having additional ballot boxes. I believe that the advantage far outweighs the disadvantages. Look at the cost. You will shutdowns economy for these two Saturdays. There will be restriction of movement. People die because they cannot access healthcare during the hours of election. You are locking down the entire country. There will be no flight. The economy will lose billion of naira in those days of election. What is the fear?”
Interestingly, sequence of election has always been a touchy issue in the Green chamber. Attempts by the House to alter the order, putting the governorship and state Houses of Assembly election first and the presidential and National Assembly polls last, has repeatedly pitched members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their counterpart in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
For instance, in the 8th Assembly, the PDP caucus successfully pushed for the House to alter the sequence of election. However, former President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent. Nonetheless, efforts by the House to override the President’s veto was scuttled by the APC.
Pundits say while the sequence of election has been a bone of contention between political parties, within and outside the parliament, with ruling parties seeking a sustenance of the status quo where the presidential election comes first and the opposition kicking against it, the proposal to hold all elections in one day is more or less a middle course approach. Luckily, for the promoters of the simultaneous voting bill, the sponsors cuts across party lines. However, whether that will result in bipartisan support for the proposed legislation will clear in the days ahead.
