A fresh move by the National Assembly to shift the 2027 presidential and governorship elections to November 2026 has sparked sharp divisions among opposition parties.

While some critics see the proposal as a ploy to extend President Bola Tinubu’s tenure, others believe it could strengthen Nigeria’s electoral process if well implemented.

The proposal, contained in a draft amendment to the 2022 Electoral Act, seeks to move the general elections forward by about six months to ensure all pre- and post-election disputes are resolved before the May 29, 2027 handover date.

If approved, the presidential and governorship elections will be held in November 2026, instead of the traditional February or March 2027 schedule.

Section 4(7) of the proposed 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 of the office.”

Similarly, Section 4(5) provides that “elections into the state houses of assembly and the National Assembly shall be held not later than 185 days before the date on which each of the houses stands dissolved.”

A breakdown of the timeline shows that counting 185 days backward from May 29, 2027, places the elections in November 2026 — roughly six months earlier than the usual schedule.

Lawmakers argue that the shift would end the practice of inaugurating elected officials whose victories remain subject to pending court cases.

The move comes months after a similar proposal in July sought to amend the Constitution to make all elections — presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly — hold on the same day in 2027.

At a joint public hearing on Monday, the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, said the intention was to “ensure that all manner of election litigations are dispensed with before the swearing-in of winners.”

Balogun explained that the proposed law would also shorten the time frame for tribunal judgments from 180 days to 90 days.

“Ninety days are expected for judgment by the appellate court, up to 60 days by the Supreme Court, which will not exceed 185 days,” he said.

The bill also proposes early voting for specific groups, as stated in Section 2, which provides that “there shall be a date set aside for early voting not later than 14 days before the day of the election.”

Eligible early voters would include security personnel, INEC officials, accredited observers, journalists, and ad hoc staff.

Other highlights of the proposed amendment include mandatory electronic transmission of results and the removal of compulsory use of the Permanent Voter Card (PVC).

Section 60(5) states that “the presiding officer shall transmit the results, including the total number of accredited voters, to the next level of collation both electronically and manually.”

Failure to comply would attract penalties.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reportedly backed the proposal, describing it as a step toward greater transparency and efficiency.

However, opposition parties remain split over the motive and implications.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Youth Leader, Timothy Osadolor, alleged that the lawmakers’ real intent was to extend President Tinubu’s stay in office.

“If their plan is to give President Bola Tinubu an opportunity to stay a bit longer before he goes, they should own up. The move is ill-timed and not in the best interest of Nigerians,” he said.
“What Nigerians want is a constitutional guarantee for BVAS and real-time transmission of results — not date manipulation.”

The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) National Publicity Secretary, Ladipo Johnson, also expressed skepticism, saying the early date could disadvantage smaller parties.

“Those in government will be better prepared, while other parties will have to scramble. Holding elections in November 2026 may be too early for those expecting February or March 2027,” he warned.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) adopted a cautious stance. Its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the party would comment only after studying the draft.

“We don’t have a copy of the proposed amendment yet. We will react officially after reviewing it,” he said.

On the other hand, the Labour Party factional spokesman, Obiora Ifoh, welcomed the proposal, saying it could reduce costs and electoral tension.

“We have always said all elections should be held in one day to avoid the bandwagon effect. If passed, it will give enough time for litigations to be concluded before swearing-in,” he noted.

But the Obidient Movement Worldwide Coordinator, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, urged lawmakers to subject the proposal to broad public consultations.

“The National Assembly must not act in self-interest. They should consult Nigerians widely before making such far-reaching changes,” Tanko cautioned.