BREAKING: Senate Passes Bill to Mandate INEC to Conduct Presidential, Governorship, and Assembly Elections Same Day
The bill, sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and representative of Plateau South, was debated extensively during Wednesday’s plenary session.
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Senate Passes Bill to Mandate INEC to Conduct Presidential, Governorship, and Assembly Elections Same Day
The Nigerian Senate has passed for second reading a bill seeking to mandate the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly elections on the same day starting from the 2027 general elections.
The proposed legislation is part of a broader amendment to repeal the Electoral Act 2022 and replace it with a new Electoral Bill 2025, which aims to strengthen the country’s electoral framework and improve the credibility of elections.
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The bill, sponsored by Senator Simon Lalong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters and representative of Plateau South, was debated extensively during Wednesday’s plenary session.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced the bill’s passage after it received overwhelming support through a voice vote. He subsequently referred it to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative work and a public hearing. The committee has been directed to submit its report within two weeks.
While presenting the bill, Senator Lalong noted that although the Electoral Act 2022 introduced notable reforms, it still contained weaknesses that affected the efficiency and fairness of elections. These include delays in the release of election funds, disputes over voter registers, ambiguity in the interpretation of result transmission, and weak enforcement of electoral offences.
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According to him, the new Electoral Bill 2025 seeks to enhance the independence of INEC by insulating it from political influence and ensuring timely access to election funding.
During the debate, Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi North) called for the inclusion of clear provisions guaranteeing the electronic transmission of election results to ensure credibility. He also emphasized the need to strengthen the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for transparency and accountability.
In his contribution, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North) urged lawmakers across party lines to collaborate in building a transparent and dependable electoral system, stressing that credible elections are vital for Nigeria’s democracy.
