ABUJA, Nigeria – The House of Representatives on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, passed for a second reading a bill seeking to amend the 1999 Nigerian Constitution to hold presidential, governorship, National Assembly, state assembly, and local government elections on the same day.
Sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere, a lawmaker representing Ideato Federal Constituency (Imo State) in the House of Representatives.
Alongside 35 co-sponsors, the bill was presented during plenary by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere.
The bill proposes an amendment to Section 116 of the Constitution, introducing a new subsection (3), which mandates that “all elections into the offices of President, Governors, National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly, and Local Government Area Councils shall hold simultaneously on the same date.”
The provision further stipulates that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will determine the date in consultation with the National Assembly and in accordance with the Electoral Act.
A similar amendment is proposed for Section 132, which would add a new paragraph (a) to subsection (1), reinforcing the requirement for simultaneous elections.
The bill, which was met with overwhelming support during the voice vote conducted by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, has now been referred to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative consideration.
