Nigeria May Hold 2026 Elections Six Months Early Under Proposed Electoral Reforms

Nigeria’s next general elections could be held in November 2026, six months earlier than usual, under a proposed amendment to the Electoral Act.

The National Assembly unveiled the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 on Monday during a joint public hearing of the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja. The bill, which seeks to replace the 2022 Electoral Act, drew lawmakers, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders.

The draft states that presidential and governorship elections must be held no later than 185 days before the end of the current administration’s term. Lawmakers explained that the shift aims to ensure all election petitions are resolved before the May 29, 2027, handover date.

Some legislators, however, cautioned that simply changing the election date might not fully address post-election disputes unless the judiciary is strengthened to handle the increased caseload.

Beyond the new timeline, the bill proposes major reforms, including inmate and early diaspora voting, mandatory electronic transmission of results, and using the National Identification Number (NIN) for voter registration. It also removes the Permanent Voter Card (PVC) requirement, allowing voters to download and print their cards when needed, since accreditation relies on the BVAS system.

Political parties will need to submit their list of candidates at least 210 days before the election. Only candidates from valid primaries will be recognised, and rival party candidates will be allowed to challenge nomination processes. Jurisdiction over pre-election matters will be limited to the Federal High Court in Abuja or where the action occurred.

The legislature is also considering amending the 1999 Constitution to shift control of election timelines from the Constitution to the Electoral Act, allowing future adjustments without full constitutional review.

Leaders of both chambers assured that the reform process would be transparent and aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s democracy. If passed and signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, INEC will revise its election timetable, paving the way for the earliest general elections in the country’s history.