Second reading of a bill that would give the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the power to hold general elections on the same day has taken place in the Senate.
The bill’s intention is to amend the Electoral Act 2022 to lower rising election costs, shorten campaign terms, and allow elected officials to serve as ad-hoc delegates at party congresses.
Senator Saliu Mustapha led the discussion on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and spoke out about the outrageous costs of elections, which jumped from $1. 5 billion in 1999 to $ 350 billion in 2023.
He emphasized the cost, inefficiency, and reliance on staggered elections.
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The current stumbling election process is a significant financial burden. He claimed that holding all elections on the same day would lower political tension, reduce costs, and increase voter turnout.
Some lawmakers expressed concern about INEC’s ability to conduct nationwide elections in a single day, despite the proposal’s strong support from several senators.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole urged people to start the reform process without checking INEC’s readiness.
He remarked that the “bill has good intentions, but we must ask: Is INEC prepared to hold all elections in a single day”? We must also take into account the confusion that multiple ballot papers might cause, particularly for those who don’t know how to vote.
Source: Channels TV
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