Nigeria’s next presidential and governorship elections could be held in November 2026, following a proposal by the National Assembly to shift the polls six months earlier than usual.
The plan was unveiled on Monday at a public hearing in Abuja, organised by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters, as part of deliberations on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025.
According to the draft amendment, elections "shall be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder," effectively placing the polls in November 2026, ahead of the May 29, 2027 handover date.
Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon Adebayo Balogun, said the measure is intended to ensure all election disputes are resolved before inauguration.
Balogun added that the National Assembly plans to amend Sections 285 and 139 of the Constitution to shorten timelines for litigations.
Under the proposal, tribunal judgments will reduce from 180 to 90 days, appeal decisions from 90 to 60 days, and the entire judicial process capped at 185 days.
Other notable provisions include early voting for security personnel, INEC staff, journalists, and accredited observers 14 days before the main election.
Mandatory electronic transmission of results, with penalties for non-compliance, the Assembly said will attract one-year jail term or one million naira fine for officers who issue unstamped ballot papers or result sheets.
According to the Senate, the proposed Section 60(5) reads: "The Presiding Officer shall transmit the results… both electronically and manually."
Represented by Prof Abdullahi Zuru, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) endorsed the amendments, particularly the push for compulsory e-transmission of results, describing it as crucial to transparency and dispute reduction.
Meanwhile, in July, a separate proposal to conduct all elections on the same day in 2027 sparked mixed reactions. Opposition parties, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party ( LP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and New Nigeria People's Party (NNPP) supported it, while the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) strongly opposed, citing potential risks.
The initiative, led by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu through nationwide constitutional consultations, aimed to cut costs and curtail post-election bandwagon effects.
If adopted, the current amendment would compel INEC to restructure electoral timelines, potentially ushering in the earliest general elections in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, and reshaping the litigation landscape ahead of 2027.
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