As the 2027 general elections approach, civil society organizations are calling for a shift to a single-day voting system, replacing the current practice of holding elections over multiple days.
This proposal was a key resolution reached on Friday during a one-day policy dialogue on the feasibility of a single-day election in Nigeria, organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development ,Centre LSD, in Abuja.
Speaking on the need for policy change, Dr. Iroro Izu of Nile University, Abuja, highlighted that major democracies such as the United States, India, and Brazil conduct their elections in a single day.
He also pointed out that the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, incurs substantial expenses in conducting elections over multiple days.
Beyond the financial burden, he noted that the process results in economic losses for citizens and prolongs political tensions.
“It is safe to say that it becomes a fool’s paradise to continue in this charade. This is not to add the non-material, socio-psychological trauma faced by Nigerians as a result of a sustained heated political environment”, Izu stated.
“This initiative will save the government’s funds, save the economy of unnecessary losses, and stop subtle disenfranchisement via the bandwagon effect.
“It also shows national seriousness, curbs waste of time, energy, and manpower, arrests electoral fraud and prevents undue heating up of the polity.
“Nigerian government must be bold to take the bull by the horns and think more efficiently, effectively optimally, cost-effectively and patriotically”.
Executive of Partners for Electoral Reforms, Ezenwa Nwagwu however expressed caution in discarding the multiple days of voting, stressing the need to take into “cognizance the political environment, the culture of the politicians we are dealing with, how they react and our people because at the end of the day we see election as a bazaar. For me, it has to do with the nature and character of our politics.
“I am supporting that if we want to do single day election, there is more work that is pragmatic neither than just theoretical engagement”.
Representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission ,INEC, at the dialogue and Director of Operation, Adigun Hakeem, said the electoral umpire’s position on the issue is subjected to the electoral rules and guidelines as approved by the National Assembly consent.
According to him, “INEC as a governing body, we cannot take a position on these issues for now. INEC’s primary assignment is to conduct free, fair and credible elections. All activities and guidelines are being spelt out by the National Assembly. So we don’t take a position.
“At the end of today’s meeting, the decision we arrive at will be submitted to the commission. We are here to participate and to listen to your position. As we are here, we are listening to your advocacy. Our interest is to be fair and conduct free and credible elections.
“At INEC, after every general election, we go back to the drawing board, to review the election. Like this last 2023 election, the review report just came. For all the elections like the National Assembly and presidency followed by the state assembly and governorship, all the issues that came out during the last election are reviewed so that we improve on future elections.
“INEC cannot do it alone, all the stakeholders in election matters must come together and by the grace of God, we will submit the report of today’s meeting to the commission”.
Pioneer Executive Director of Centre LSD, Dr. Otive Igbuzor, said the majority of speakers at the dialogue agreed that elections should be held in Nigeria on a single day.
Dr. Igbuzor said: “So for us, this is the start of a process, we will appeal to the resource person to convert the presentation into a policy brief which we will use to engage INEC, political parties, politicians and stakeholders to further explore the possibility of a single day election in Nigeria.
“Nigeria has been lucky to have 25 years of uninterrupted democracy, we must all protect it and the way to protect it is to strengthen democracy by ensuring that there is a credible electoral process. We are committed to contributing to that process.
