NASS Wants Journalists, Security Agents, Others To Vote Before Election Day…2027 General Election May Hold Nov 2026
The National Assembly is working towards having the 2027 General Election held in November next year in order to ensure that all post-election litigations are made to come to an end before those who emerge as winners will take office.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that a draft amendment in this regard was unveiled during the joint public hearing held by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja on Monday.
This was contained in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, and it seeks to ensure that all election petitions are concluded before May 29, 2027.
‘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’ the lawmakers submitted.
Chairman, Committee on Electoral Matters, House of Representatives, Hon. Adebayo Balogun explained that this, if done, will ensure that ‘all manner of election litigations are dispensed with before the winners are sworn in’.
The National Assembly, he added, plans to amend Sections 285 and 139 of the 1999 Constitution to shorten the timelines for election petitions, reducing tribunal judgments from 180 to 90 days, appellate court decisions from 90 to 60 days, and ensuring that the entire judicial process does not exceed 185 days.
Other key proposals include early voting for certain categories of Nigerians including security personnel, INEC staff, accredited journalists, and observers who are to vote at least 14 days before the Election Day.
The new amendment also seeks to make the electronic transmission of results mandatory, with penalties for non-compliance.
‘The Presiding Officer shall transmit the results, including the total number of accredited voters, to the next level of collation both electronically and manually’ the lawmakers noted in Section 60(5) of the bill.
Officials who issue unstamped ballot papers or result sheets are expected to get one-year sentence or pay ₦1 million fine.
Stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) represented by Professor Abdullahi Zuru reportedly supported the proposed reforms, especially electronic voting and compulsory e-transmission of results which will help to enhance credibility and reduce post-election disputes-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
