The National Assembly has proposed moving Nigeria’s next general elections to November 2026, six months earlier than the usual February schedule.
The recommendation appears in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, unveiled on Monday during a joint public hearing by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja. The bill seeks to repeal the 2022 Electoral Act and enact a new Electoral Act 2025, attracting lawmakers, civil society organisations, and stakeholders to the session.
The draft amendment stipulates that “elections into the office of the President and Governor of a State shall be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder.” The move aims to conclude all election litigations ahead of the May 29, 2027 handover.
Lawmakers, however, cautioned that the change would be insufficient without strengthening the judiciary to handle growing election disputes. The committee questioned whether a rerun ordered near the 185-day mark could leave a presidential vacancy, highlighting the need for judicial preparedness.
Other provisions in the bill include inmate voting, early diaspora voting, voter registration via NIN, and mandatory electronic transmission of results. The amendment also proposes that the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) will no longer be compulsory, allowing voters to print cards digitally, reducing PVC fraud.
Political parties would be required to submit candidate lists 210 days before elections, recognising only candidates from valid primaries. The bill also seeks constitutional amendments to allow election timelines to be set by the Electoral Act, offering greater legislative flexibility.
For the changes to take effect, both chambers of the National Assembly must pass the bill, after which it will be sent to President Bola Tinubu for assent. If signed, INEC will adjust its timetable, paving the way for Nigeria’s earliest general elections in recent history.