Nigeria’s National Assembly has proposed a major shift in the country’s electoral calendar, suggesting that the next presidential and governorship elections be held in November 2026, rather than the usual February or March 2027.
The proposal is part of a series of draft amendments to the Electoral Act 2022, discussed on Monday during a one-day public hearing organised by the Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Senator Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South).
Under Section 4(7) of the proposed amendment, elections for the offices of President and State Governors would be conducted no later than 185 days before the expiration of the incumbent’s term.
Given that the current administration’s tenure ends on May 29, 2027, the adjustment would place the next presidential and governorship elections around November 2026.
A similar change is proposed for elections into the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly, which would also be held no later than 185 days before their dissolution, according to Section 4(5) of the amendment.
Lawmakers say the shift aims to give the judiciary more time to resolve electoral disputes before winners are sworn in.
Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, explained that the proposed changes would reduce the timeline for election litigation and ensure that court cases do not drag on after elected officials assume office.
“We are proposing that all election litigations be concluded before the swearing-in of declared winners,” Balogun said. “To achieve this, the current 180 days allowed for tribunal judgments should be reduced to 90 days, while appellate and Supreme Court decisions would each take no more than 60 days all within 185 days before inauguration.”
Balogun added that implementing the proposal would require amendments to Sections 285 and 139 of the 1999 Constitution, to align with the new electoral schedule.
If passed, the amendment would mark one of the most significant changes to Nigeria’s election timeline since the return to democratic rule in 1999.