The Lagos State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed support for the proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution to mandate all general elections in Nigeria be conducted on the same day, beginning in 2027.
Mr. Hakeem Olalemi, PDP Vice-Chairman (Lagos Central), gave the party’s backing during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos.
The proposal, being championed by the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, is among several being considered as part of broader constitutional amendments following zonal public hearings across the country’s six geopolitical zones.
If passed, the amendment would require the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly elections simultaneously.
Olalemi said that holding all elections on the same day would reduce the cost of logistics for INEC, political parties, and candidates. He added that it would also encourage voter turnout by eliminating the stress and complications of staggered polls, and reduce the bandwagon effect that often influences subsequent elections.
“If this amendment is allowed to scale through, it will mark a breakthrough in the kind of democracy Nigeria should be practicing,” Olalemi stated.
“A single-day election will not only save resources spent every four years on election logistics, but will also strengthen the credibility of the process, making our democracy freer, fairer, and more robust.”
He argued that consolidating elections into a single day would help tackle voter apathy, a recurring issue in Nigerian elections, by minimizing the stress and discouragement associated with multiple voting dates.
Olalemi also suggested that unified elections would improve planning for political parties and their candidates, allowing them to better coordinate logistics and campaign efforts.
“If all elections are held on the same day, party candidates can pool resources more effectively for electioneering activities, including logistics for party agents,” he said.
“In addition, reducing the number of nationwide lockdowns for elections from two days to just one would lessen the disruption to the country’s economy.”
He noted that the physical and logistical burden on security agencies, election observers, the media, and other stakeholders would also be significantly reduced.
Olalemi warned, however, that some individuals or groups might oppose the proposal for selfish political reasons.
“Those who do not want Nigeria’s electoral system to grow may stand in the way of this much-needed reform,” he said.
“But I believe that someday our elections and democracy will grow stronger. This amendment is a step in the right direction.”
