Dasuki: Why INEC should hold 2027 elections in one day

Rep Abdussamad Dasuki, Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to hold the 2027 general election on a single day. In a meeting with youths from the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dasuki suggested that a one-day election would save the country significant economic losses due to the disruption caused by staggered elections.

He argued that conducting the federal and state elections together would also reduce the financial burden on the government, as allowances and other expenses for election personnel, security agencies, and other logistics would only be needed for one day instead of two separate days. Dasuki pointed out that combining the elections would also decrease the number of travel trips required, particularly in light of the country's security challenges.

By conducting the elections on a single day, individuals traveling for election purposes would only need to make one trip, either in January or February 2027. Dasuki urged INEC to merge the federal and state elections, involving five ballot papers for federal elections and four for states that do not hold governorship elections.

He emphasized that INEC has the capacity to manage the process efficiently, and the single-day arrangement would simplify the electoral process and reduce the movement of voters, political actors, election officials, and security personnel. Dasuki also raised concerns over Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act, which he believes could compromise the integrity of the 2027 election by allowing ballot papers without the official mark to be counted under certain circumstances.

He urged the removal of this provision, as it could create a loophole for the use of fake or unauthorised ballot papers.