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National Assembly Proposes November 2026 for 2027 General Elections
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Nigeria’s next presidential and governorship elections may be held in November 2026, following a proposal by the National Assembly to move the polls six months earlier than usual.
The draft amendment was unveiled on Monday during a public hearing jointly organised by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja.
The move, contained in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, seeks to ensure that all election petitions are concluded before the May 29, 2027, handover date.
The draft amendment read, “Elections into the office of the President and Governor of a State shall be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.”
This means the polls would fall in November 2026, roughly six months before the end of the current administration’s tenure.
Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, explained that the move is designed to “ensure that all manner of election litigations are dispensed with before the swearing in of winners.”
He said the National Assembly plans to amend Sections 285 and 139 of the 1999 Constitution to shorten the timelines for election petitions, reducing tribunal judgments from 180 to 90 days, appellate court decisions from 90 to 60 days, and ensuring that the entire judicial process does not exceed 185 days.
Other key proposals include early voting for certain categories of Nigerians such as security personnel, INEC staff, accredited journalists, and observers at least 14 days before election day.
Significantly, the amendment also seeks to make the electronic transmission of results mandatory, with penalties for non-compliance.
The proposed Section 60(5) reads, “The Presiding Officer shall transmit the results, including the total number of accredited voters, to the next level of collation both electronically and manually.”
Officers who issue unstamped ballot papers or result sheets could face a one-year jail term or a ₦1 million fine.
Stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, represented by Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, threw their weight behind the proposed reforms, particularly the call for electronic voting and compulsory e-transmission of results, describing them as critical to enhancing credibility and reducing post-election disputes.
In July, mixed reactions had trailed a similar proposal to amend the 1999 Constitution to allow all elections in Nigeria to be conducted on the same day in 2027.
While leading opposition parties the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, African Democratic Congress and New Nigeria People’s Party supported the idea, the ruling All Progressives Congress rejected it, warning of dire consequences.
The initiative, spearheaded by the House Committee on Constitution Review, chaired by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, emerged from broader constitutional amendment consultations across the six geo-political zones.
If passed, the proposal would mandate INEC to conduct presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and state assembly elections on a single day a move touted to drastically cut costs and reduce post-election bandwagon effects.
The Punch
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has described the victory of Jide Oyekunle, a journalist with Independent Newspaper, at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice as a major victory for journalism and press freedom in Nigeria.
The union, in its reaction to the judgment awarding N10 million in damages against the Nigerian government over the violation of Oyekunle’s rights, said the ruling represents an important step towards protecting journalists and defending media freedom.
The NUJ in a statement signed by the National Secretary, Achike Chude on Wednesday commended the efforts of Avocats Sans Frontières France (ASF France) for providing legal support and standing with the journalist throughout the legal process.
It said the judgment serves as a reminder of the need for the protection of journalists who perform their constitutional duty of informing the public, adding that attacks and harassment against media practitioners must not go unchecked.
The union urged the Nigerian government to comply with the ECOWAS Court judgment by paying the N10 million damages awarded to Oyekunle without delay.
According to the NUJ, prompt compliance with the ruling would demonstrate respect for the rule of law and reinforce Nigeria’s commitment to upholding human rights and press freedom.
The union further called for stronger measures to guarantee the safety and independence of journalists across the country.
Signed
Comrade Achike Chude
National Secretary
President Tinubu Will Commission Roads 01 and 02 Linking Mabushi Bus Terminal and Ahmadu Bello Way Today
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BEWARE: FG warns 26 States of flood, places, Bayelsa, Delta, Lagos, Adamawa, Benue, others as critical risk areas
The Federal Government has alerted residents of 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to the possibility of flooding between June 22 and July 5, 2026, following forecasts of heavy rainfall in different parts of the country.
The warning was issued by the Federal Ministry of Environment through the National Flood Early Warning Centre under its Erosion, Flood and Coastal Zone Management Department.
The ministry said several communities across the country have been identified as areas that could face serious flood threats during the period.
According to the forecast released on June 22, heavy rainfall is expected in many locations, raising concerns about possible flooding in vulnerable communities.
States placed under the critical-risk category include Abia, Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Rivers.
In Abia State, the affected communities include Aba, Arochukwu and Umuahia. In Adamawa, the ministry listed Jimeta and Numan, while Eket, Oron and Uyo were named in Akwa Ibom. In Anambra, Onitsha Inland Town and Awka Urban Drainage Corridors were identified as vulnerable locations.
Bayelsa communities such as Yenagoa, Brass and Nembe Town were also listed among areas that could be affected by flooding.
Other locations mentioned include Makurdi, Gboko and Katsina-Ala in Benue State; Calabar Metropolis and Creek Town in Cross River State; Asaba, Warri and Sapele in Delta State; and Abakaliki, Afikpo and Onueke in Ebonyi State.
The ministry also identified Benin City Urban Core and Auchi in Edo State, Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State, as well as Enugu, Nsukka and Oji River Town in Enugu State.
In Imo State, Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe were listed, while Lokoja and Ajaokuta were named in Kogi State. Communities such as Ilorin, Jebba and Pategi in Kwara State were also included in the warning.
Several parts of Lagos State were equally listed among the areas at risk.
These include Agege, Alimosho, Apapa, Badagry, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Lagos Island, Lekki and Surulere.
In Niger State, Bida, Minna, Mokwa, Suleja and Kontagora were identified, while Abeokuta, Ota and Sagamu were listed in Ogun State.
The flood alert further covered Akure, Owo and Okitipupa in Ondo State; Oshogbo, Ile-Ife and Ilesa in Osun State; Ibadan, Ogbomoso and Oyo in Oyo State; as well as Port Harcourt Urban Core, Bonny, Ahoada and Omoku in Rivers State.
Apart from the states under the critical-risk category, the ministry also placed parts of Adamawa, the FCT, Kebbi, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau and Taraba states under a high-risk category.
Communities listed in this group include Yola North, Yola South, Mubi and Gurin in Adamawa State; Abuja Municipal, Gwagwalada, Kubwa, Nyanya and Wuse in the FCT; Birnin Kebbi and Argungu in Kebbi State; Bako in Kogi State; and Keffi, Lafia, Karu and Toto in Nasarawa State.
The warning also covered Jos and Jos North in Plateau State, as well as Jalingo, Wukari, Takum, Serti and Karim Lamido in Taraba State.
NUJ Hails Oyekunle’s ECOWAS Court Victory, Says It Is a Win for Journalism, Press Freedom
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