The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step towards electoral reform as the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeking to reduce election costs and mandate same-day voting for all elective offices, passed second reading on Thursday.
Key Provisions of the Bill
1. Same-Day Elections for All Offices
The bill proposes that presidential, governorship, national assembly, and state assembly elections be conducted on the same day to cut costs and improve efficiency.
Sponsor of the bill, Sen. Saliu Mustapha (APC, Kwara Central), argued that staggering elections leads to unnecessary expenses and security risks.
2. Reducing the Cost of Elections
Mustapha highlighted the rising financial burden of elections in Nigeria, citing that the cost had surged from N1.5 billion in 1999 to N350 billion in 2023.
He emphasized that same-day elections would significantly cut election expenses, allowing funds to be redirected to infrastructure projects and governance improvements.
3. Shorter Campaign Periods
The bill seeks to limit the duration of election campaigns, arguing that prolonged campaigns increase financial pressures on parties and candidates.
“A shorter campaign period will curb excessive spending and allow politicians to focus more on governance rather than electioneering,” Mustapha noted.
4. Adhoc Delegate Rights for Elected Officials
The bill also seeks to grant the President, Vice President, Governors, and National Assembly members the right to serve as adhoc delegates at their party conventions.
Mustapha argued that excluding elected officials from party decision-making processes is unfair and counterproductive.
5. Global Best Practices
The senator cited successful models from democracies such as the United States, India, and Brazil, where same-day elections have proven to reduce costs and improve electoral efficiency.
“Nigeria must adopt a similar approach to save funds that can be redirected to critical infrastructure projects,” he urged.
Mixed Reactions in the Senate
While the bill received broad support, some lawmakers expressed concerns over INEC’s ability to conduct nationwide elections in a single day.
Sen. Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) warned against rushing the reforms without ensuring INEC’s logistical readiness.
“The bill has good intentions, but we must ask: Is INEC equipped to conduct all elections in one day?” Oshiomhole queried.
He also raised concerns about multiple ballot papers confusing voters, particularly those with low literacy levels.
