2027: Rep urges single-day poll, seeks amendment of Electoral Act

The Minority Leader of Nigeria's House of Representatives, Abdussamad Dasuki, has advocated for a single-day election for the 2027 general polls. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to consider merging federal and state elections into one day, either in January or February of that year. Dasuki argued that this move would save the nation from economic losses due to disrupted activities and reduce financial burdens on the government, as allowances for election-related personnel would only be needed once.

He also highlighted that a unified election would decrease the number of travel trips for voters and election participants, particularly considering Nigeria's security challenges. Dasuki noted that the current staggered elections require voters to make separate trips in January for federal elections and in February for state elections.

He believed that a single day election would simplify the electoral process and lessen voter movement across the country, especially in view of the current security situation. Dasuki also called for the removal of Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act, which he argued could allow the counting of ballot papers without the official mark, potentially compromising the election's integrity.

He suggested that this provision could permit the use of fake or unauthorized ballot papers during elections, creating a loophole for electoral fraud. Dasuki assured that his minority colleagues are working to rectify this issue before the 2027 elections.