*National Assembly proposes November 2026 for presidential, governorship elections
*Wants shift from traditional February/March election month and year
*Seeks conclusion of election litigations before swearing-in of winners
*As stakeholders demand electronic transmission of result of all elections
By Gbenga Salami and David Odama
As the nation is warming up for another general elections in 2027, both chamber of the National Assembly, (the Senate and the House of Representatives) have proposed the conduct of the Presidential and Governorship elections in November 2026, thereby shifting from the traditional February or March election month and year.
The proposed amendments were unveiled on Monday during a one-day public hearing organized by the Joint Committee of the Senate and House of Representatives on Electoral Matters, featuring several far-reaching recommendations.
The proposal is contained in the draft amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act which stipulates that elections into the two offices should hold not later than 185 days before the expiration of the incumbent’s tenure, which invariably terminates on May 29, 2027.
Submissions by many of the critical stakeholders at the hearing called for the adoption of electronic voting and electronic transmission of election results to strengthen transparency and credibility in the process.
According to Section 4(7) of the proposed amendment “Elections into the office of the President and Governor of a State shall be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.”
A calculation of 185 days before May 29, 2027, places the elections squarely in November 2026, as the days between May 28, 2027, and December 1, 2026, total 180.
For federal and state legislators, Section 4(5) of the proposed amendment provides that “Elections into the State Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly shall be held not later than 185 days before the date on which each of the Houses stands dissolved.”
To eliminate constitutional barriers to the proposed changes, the joint committee noted in the draft document that: “Section 28 (now Section 27 [5–7]) was introduced due to amendments to Sections 76, 116, 132, and 178 of the Constitution, seeking to transfer the determination of election timelines from the Constitution to the Electoral Act.”
Expatiating on the rationale behind the early conduct of elections, the Chairman, House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun said the move is designed to allow sufficient time for the conclusion of election litigations before swearing-in ceremonies, stressing that Sections 285 and 139 of the 1999 Constitution would be amended accordingly.
“To ensure that all election litigations are concluded before swearing-in, we are proposing that the 180 days for tribunal judgments be reduced to 90 days, the appellate court’s 90 days reduced to 60, and the Supreme Court’s timeline shortened accordingly—ensuring the entire process does not exceed 185 days,” he stated.
Other key proposed amendments, include early voting, as captured in Section (2) of the draft bill, which provides that: “There shall be a date set aside for early voting not later than 14 days before the main election.”
Other categories are Eligibility for pre-poll voting includes security personnel, electoral officials, accredited domestic observers, journalists and ad-hoc staff of the Commission.
Further proposed amendments include mandatory electronic transmission of election results and non-compulsory use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). Section 60(5) of the draft amendment provides that:
“The Presiding Officer shall transmit results, including the total number of accredited voters, to the next level of collation both electronically and manually.”
It also criminalizes the distribution of unstamped ballot papers or result sheets, stipulating a penalty of one-year imprisonment, a ₦1 million fine, or both for any erring presiding or collation officer.
All stakeholders who presented their views at the hearing—including the representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Abdullahi Zuru—expressed support for the joint committee’s proposals.
