Reps Propose Single-Day Elections, Tougher Rules in Sweeping Electoral Reform Bill

The House of Representatives has proposed a significant overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral framework with the introduction of the Electoral Bill 2025, which aims to consolidate all five major elections—presidential, governorship, senatorial, House of Representatives, and State Assembly—into a single day in 2027. This sweeping reform, if passed into law, would amend the Electoral Act 2022 and grant the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the power to organize same-day elections nationwide, excluding off-cycle polls.

The bill, sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun (APC, Lagos), has passed its second reading. It also proposes a raft of other changes aimed at tightening campaign finance, expediting legal proceedings, and eliminating frequent by-elections due to resignation or death of lawmakers.

Under the proposed law, political associations seeking registration as political parties would be required to pay a non-refundable administrative fee of ₦50 million, and prove compliance with constitutional requirements. Failure to register within 90 days would automatically confer party status unless INEC officially declines the application. Associations or their executives who submit false information risk hefty fines and possible jail time.

The bill also sets firm limits on campaign expenses. Presidential candidates would be capped at ₦10 billion, gubernatorial aspirants at ₦3 billion, senatorial candidates at ₦500 million, House of Representatives candidates at ₦250 million, and State Assembly and chairmanship hopefuls at ₦30 million. Councillorship campaigns would be limited to ₦10 million. Donations from individuals or entities to any candidate would be limited to ₦500 million.

To reduce the frequency of costly by-elections, the bill proposes that if a seat becomes vacant due to death, resignation, or incapacity, the sponsoring political party will nominate a replacement. The name must be submitted to INEC within 60 days, and the candidate will be sworn in without the need for a fresh poll.

Early voting provisions are also introduced, allowing INEC to set aside a separate day for security agents, electoral staff, journalists, observers, and other designated groups. Those on the early voter list would be barred from voting on the general election day.

In a notable shift, the use of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for accreditation is not mentioned in the proposed law. Instead, voters must present electronic voter IDs with QR codes or other officially approved identification, including a Nigerian passport, birth certificate, or National Identification Number. Accreditation would be carried out using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) or other approved technology.

Election results are to be transmitted both electronically and manually, with strict penalties for officials who fail to comply. Presiding officers must ensure that the number of accredited voters and votes transmitted from polling units are consistent with official figures. Disputed results will be verified using BVAS data, original result sheets, and transmitted records.

On pre-election and post-election legal matters, the bill sets strict timelines: petitions must be filed within 21 days of result declaration, while appeals must be submitted within 14 days of judgment. All judgments must be delivered within 90 days of filing, and appeals must be resolved within 60 days.

The bill also clarifies that no person shall be declared winner of an election unless they have participated in all stages of the electoral process. In the event of natural disasters, war, or national emergencies, any delay caused by such force majeure would not count against the statutory timelines.

To discourage frivolous litigation, the bill imposes steep penalties on parties and legal practitioners who bring election challenges outside the permitted legal grounds. A court may impose fines of at least ₦10 million on petitioners and ₦5 million on their counsel if it determines the suit is baseless.

The proposed Electoral Act 2025 represents one of the most comprehensive reforms to Nigeria’s electoral process, with far-reaching implications for elections, party registration, campaign financing, voter accreditation, early voting, and dispute resolution ahead of the 2027 general elections.