A bill seeking to amend the Electoral Act, 2022, scaled the second reading in the Senate on Thursday.
The bill seeks to address existing gaps, reduce election expenses, and allow elected office holders to serve as ad hoc delegates in political party conventions.
The passage of the bill followed the presentation of the lead debate on the general principles by its sponsor, Senator Saliu Mustapha at Thursday’s plenary in Abuja.
In his presentation, Mustapha noted that while the Electoral Act 2022 was a significant improvement over the repealed 2010 Act, it still contained notable gaps that must be addressed.
He said: “It is worth noting that despite its improvements, the 2022 Electoral Act has not significantly reduced the financial burden of elections on the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“The proposed amendments aim to create a more efficient and cost-effective electoral process that will encourage greater citizen participation.”
He noted the rising cost of elections in Nigeria, saying the budget for general elections had increased from ₦1.5 billion in 1999 to ₦350 billion in 2023.
To mitigate these costs, the lawmaker proposed the conduct of all elections on the same day to minimise expenses associated with prolonged campaigns and staggered voting.
“Same-day elections will not only help the government reduce costs but will also increase voter turnout and promote greater citizen engagement in the electoral process,” he added.
Following deliberations, the Deputy Senate President, Jibrin Barau, who presided over the plenary, referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters for further legislative action.