Opposition Kicks As National Assembly Moves To Shift 2027 Elections To 2026
A fresh bid by the National Assembly to shift the 2027 presidential and governorship elections to November 2026 has sparked outrage among opposition parties and political groups across the country.
The proposal, which forms part of the draft amendments to the 2022 Electoral Act, seeks to move the polls forward by about six months to allow all pre- and post-election litigations to be concluded before the May 29, 2027, handover date.
Under the proposed amendment, elections into the offices of the president and state governors would be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of their current tenure.
Similarly, legislative elections are to be conducted no later than 185 days before the dissolution of the National and State Assemblies.
Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, defended the proposal at a joint public hearing on Monday, saying the move would “ensure that all manner of election litigations are dispensed with before the swearing-in of winners.”
Balogun explained that the amendment also seeks to reduce the 180-day tribunal judgment period to 90 days, with appellate and Supreme Court decisions expected within 60 and 35 days respectively.
However, opposition figures have strongly condemned the move, describing it as a plot to manipulate the electoral process.
Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Timothy Osadolor, accused the National Assembly of attempting to “buy more time” for President Bola Tinubu.
He said, “The National Assembly should not be thinking of tinkering with the Electoral Act in this regard. If their plan is to give President Bola Tinubu an opportunity to stay a bit longer before he goes, they should own up. The move is ill-timed and not in the best interest of Nigerians.”
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Ladipo Johnson, warned that the proposed change could place opposition parties at a disadvantage.
“Those in government will be better prepared, while other parties will be forced to go back to the drawing board. Holding elections in November 2026 may be too early for those expecting February or March 2027,” he said.
The National Coordinator of the Obidient Movement Worldwide, Yunusa Tanko, also faulted the plan, urging lawmakers to prioritise public consultation over political expediency.
“Anything that the National Assembly wants to do, they should subject it to public opinion first. They shouldn’t do things only in their interest. We have seen in the past how such unilateral actions backfire,” Tanko cautioned.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
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