Bill To Empower INEC To Conduct All Elections On Same Day Scale Second Reading In Senate
The bill to empower the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold general elections on same day has scaled second reading in the Senate.
Senator Saliu Mustapha who led the debate on the Bill, highlighted the unsustainable cost of elections, which has ballooned from ₦1.5 billion in 1999 to ₦350 billion in 2023.
He noted that staggered elections are expensive, inefficient, and contribute to voter fatigue.
“The current staggered election process is a major financial burden. Holding all elections on the same day will save costs, improve voter turnout, and reduce political tension,” he said.
While the proposal received strong backing from several senators, some lawmakers expressed concerns over the capacity of INEC to handle nationwide elections in a single day.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole cautioned against rushing into the reform without ensuring INEC’s readiness.
He stated that the “bill has good intentions, but we must ask: Is INEC equipped to conduct all elections in one day? We must also consider the confusion that multiple ballot papers could create, especially for illiterate voters.”
The bill aims to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to curb rising election costs, shorten campaign periods, and allow elected officeholders to serve as ad hoc delegates in party congresses.
Meanwhile, the Senate is expected to subject it to further scrutiny in the coming weeks.
