The 2022 Electoral Act would require the Independent National Electoral Commission to hold the national assembly, state assembly, presidential, and gubernatorial elections on the same day, according to a proposal made by the Inter-Party Advisory Council on Monday.
The current staggered election system raises long-standing concerns about its cost-effectiveness and practical difficulties, which have given rise to the proposed replacement.
Political parties and the joint committees of both chambers of the National Assembly on the Independent National Electoral Commission disclosed this on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting.
According to IPAC, the current system is not financially viable since it divides up state House of Assembly, federal Assembly, presidential, and gubernatorial elections over several days.
IPAC claims that during these staggered election seasons, the country undergoes protracted shutdowns that impair academic and commercial endeavours.
“We propose an amendment to the Electoral Act that would require the conduct of all elections – presidential, National Assembly, governorship, and state House of Assembly on a single day.
“The current staggered system of elections is not cost-effective, as the nation is almost always shut down for several days whenever elections are held. Furthermore, voter turnout usually declines after the first major poll in a staggered election cycle.
“A single-day election would reduce costs, minimise disruptions to economic and academic activities, maintain voter enthusiasm throughout the process, and address logistical challenges,” IPAC said.
The group also observed that holding elections over several days in different parts of Nigeria presents logistical difficulties.
“A one-day election simplifies the process by reducing the need for repeated transportation and storing sensitive electoral materials. It also reduces the risk of logistical failures, delays, and the potential loss or mishandling of electoral materials.
“Conducting elections in one day aligns with international best practices and could enhance the efficiency, integrity, and cost-effectiveness of the electoral process in Nigeria,” it said.
IPAC states that a one-day election is anticipated to sustain voter fervour and guarantee that participants stay involved for the duration of the procedure.
It went on to say that by lowering the possibility of electoral manipulation and defending voters’ rights, this strategy will improve the effectiveness and integrity of the democratic process.
It said that although the 2022 Electoral Act brought about a number of beneficial changes, it had also drawn criticism for its flaws.
The lack of explicit rules for the electronic transmission of results, the ambiguity surrounding the use of technology in elections, and the deficiency of protections against electoral manipulation were some of the major concerns brought up by IPAC and other interested parties.
“These challenges, coupled with the limited protection for voters’ rights and freedoms, have prompted calls for a comprehensive review and amendment of the Act,” IPAC said.
It underlined that despite the constant reforms implemented since the Fourth Republic’s inception, political players had frequently figured out how to rig the system or avoid it altogether, requiring ongoing modifications to the electoral rules.
