National Assembly has proposed the shifting of the 2027 general election to November 2026, following a public hearing organised by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
This is outlined in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, which was presented at the joint public hearing on Monday.
If agreed upon, this will be six months earlier than the usual February date.
The proposed adjustment was to ensure all issues regarding the election are finalised before the May 29, 2027, handover date.
Lawmakers advocated the need to strengthen the judiciary to handle the volume of election matters.
Other highlights of the bill include inmate voting, early diaspora voting, use of NIN for voter registration, and compulsory electronic transmission of results.
Lawmakers said the move would eradicate the buying and selling of PVCs, which had plagued past elections, and make voter verification entirely digital.
The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 must be approved by both houses of the National Assembly before it can be delivered to President Bola Tinubu for assent.
RN
