Dasuki Advocates for One-Day 2027 Elections in Nigeria

Rep Abdussamad Dasuki, the Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider the staggered arrangement for the 2027 general elections and instead hold both federal and state elections on a single day. He expressed concerns regarding Section 63 (2) of the Electoral Act, which could compromise election integrity by allowing ballot papers without the official mark to be counted under certain conditions.

Dasuki argued that a one-day election would mitigate economic losses associated with staggered elections and reduce financial burdens on the government. He emphasized that combining elections would lessen the number of trips voters and officials must make, particularly in light of security challenges.

Dasuki proposed that the elections be held in either January or February 2027, involving five ballot papers for various elections. He noted that the existence of eight off-cycle governorship elections would make a single-day election more feasible, as it would reduce the number of ballot papers to four in those states.