Nigeria May Hold Presidential, Governorship Elections in November 2026 Instead of 2027
According to Section 4 (7) of the proposed amendment, presidential and gubernatorial elections must be conducted “not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office
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Nigeria May Hold Presidential, Governorship Elections in November 2026 Instead of 2027
Nigeria’s next presidential and governorship elections could take place months earlier than expected, as the National Assembly is considering shifting the polls from the traditional February/March 2027 timeline to November 2026.
The proposal is contained in draft amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act, which were presented during a public hearing on Monday by the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters.
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According to Section 4 (7) of the proposed amendment, presidential and gubernatorial elections must be conducted “not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.” With the tenure of the current administration ending on May 29, 2027, the new timeline effectively places the elections in November 2026.
Legislative and Assembly Polls Also Affected
The amendment further proposes that elections into the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly should also be held no later than 185 days before the dissolution of the respective chambers, as contained in Section 4 (5) of the draft.
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To enable this adjustment, lawmakers are pushing for constitutional amendments to sections 76, 116, 132, and 178, effectively transferring the authority for fixing election dates from the constitution to the Electoral Act.
‘More Time Needed for Election Litigation’
Adebayo Balogun, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, said the proposed change is aimed at ensuring all legal disputes arising from elections are fully resolved before elected officials are sworn in.
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“To ensure that all manner of election litigation is dispensed with before the swearing-in of winners, we are proposing an amendment that will reduce 180 days of tribunal judgement to 90 days,” Balogun said.
He added that appellate and Supreme Court rulings would be expected within 90 and 60 days respectively — all within the 185-day window.
Sections 285 and 139 of the 1999 Constitution will also be amended to reflect the new judicial timelines.
Early Voting, Electronic Transmission of Results Introduced
Another major reform contained in the bill is the introduction of early voting. Section 2 of the draft provides a special voting day at least 14 days before the main election for eligible groups such as security personnel, INEC officials, accredited observers, journalists, and ad hoc staff.
In a move expected to further boost transparency, electronic transmission of results has been made compulsory. Section 60 (5) mandates presiding officers to transmit results both electronically and manually, with penalties prescribed for failure to comply.
The amendment also criminalises the distribution of unstamped ballot papers and result sheets, prescribing a one-year jail term or a fine of ₦1 million — or both.
Interestingly, the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) is no longer made compulsory under the proposed framework.
Broad Support from Stakeholders
All major stakeholders present at the hearing — including representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) — endorsed the proposed amendments.
If passed, Nigerians may head to the polls far sooner than anticipated, marking what could be the earliest general election in the country’s democratic history.
