NASS Moves to Hold Nigeria’s General Elections November 2026

Nigeria’s National Assembly is considering moving the next general elections to November 2026, a significant shift from the traditional February schedule.

The proposal, part of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, was unveiled on Monday during a joint public hearing by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja. 

The new bill seeks to replace the 2022 Electoral Act and introduce sweeping reforms to the nation’s electoral framework.

According to the draft legislation, elections for the offices of President and state governors “shall be conducted not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.”

Explaining the rationale behind the adjustment, lawmakers said the earlier timeline would allow election-related court cases to be fully resolved before the official handover on May 29, 2027.

“The goal is to eliminate post-inauguration litigation and strengthen the credibility of our electoral process,” said a joint committee member who spoke at the hearing.

However, some lawmakers and civil society representatives expressed concern that legal challenges might persist despite the new timeframe. 

They urged that judicial capacity must be enhanced to handle election petitions efficiently.

“If a rerun is ordered close to the handover date, the nation could face a constitutional dilemma,” one lawmaker warned, calling for reforms within the judiciary to complement the proposed electoral changes.

If the amendment passes, Nigeria’s next presidential and governorship elections will take place around November 2026, roughly six months before the current administration’s tenure ends.

Beyond the election date, the bill also proposes new provisions such as voting rights for inmates, early voting for Nigerians in the diaspora, mandatory use of the National Identification Number (NIN) for voter registration, and compulsory electronic transmission of results.

Meanwhile, observers say the reform, if implemented, could mark one of the most significant overhauls of Nigeria’s electoral system since the return to democracy in 1999.

“This is a chance to make our elections more transparent and less contentious,” noted a civil society participant at the hearing. “But the political will to enforce these reforms will be what truly counts.”