Ajadi kicks against bill to move 2027 general elections to November 2026

A South-West chieftain of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Amb. Olufemi Ajadi, has urged the National Assembly to shelve its proposal to shift the 2027 general elections to 2026, warning that such a move could undermine adequate preparations by political parties, candidates, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The National Assembly had recently proposed conducting Nigeria’s next presidential and governorship elections in November 2026, instead of the usual February/March 2027.

The proposal, contained in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, seeks to ensure that all election petitions are concluded before the May 29, 2027, handover date. It provides that:

“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.”

According to the Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, the amendment is intended to “ensure that all manner of election litigations are dispensed with before the swearing-in of winners.”

However, in a statement issued on Thursday, Ajadi described the proposed shift as unnecessary, ill-timed, and counterproductive, cautioning the lawmakers against placing undue pressure on INEC and other political actors by compressing the electoral timetable.

Ajadi, who was the NNPP governorship candidate in Ogun State during the 2023 general elections, reminded the legislators that elections are major national exercises requiring meticulous planning and sufficient timelines for all stakeholders.

He argued that the rationale behind the proposed amendment—to ensure all petitions are concluded before the handover date—“does not hold water,” noting that it is the duty of the judiciary and petitioners to ensure timely resolution of electoral disputes, not the legislature’s role to truncate the established electoral calendar.

“Shifting the election to 2026 will weaken political institutions and plunge the nation into prolonged politicking at the expense of governance,” Ajadi warned.

He emphasized that credible elections depend on adequate preparation by INEC, political parties, and candidates.

“Election requires proper planning. Parties need time and resources to recruit credible candidates, while candidates also need time to engage with the electorate. Instead of altering the timetable, the National Assembly should urge the judiciary to prioritize election petitions and ensure timely resolutions,” he stated.

Ajadi further cautioned that bringing the elections forward could disrupt governance, derail ongoing reforms, and distract public officials from critical developmental responsibilities.

“We cannot be in a perpetual election period. Governance is essential for national progress. The National Assembly should be mindful of the grave implications of moving the 2027 elections to 2026,” he appealed.