Festus Okoye, a constitutional lawyer and former National Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has strongly cautioned against proposals to conduct all Nigerian elections on a single day, describing such a move as a “dangerous encroachment” on INEC’s constitutional mandate and a potential threat to democratic stability.
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In an exclusive interview with Sunday Sun in Abuja, Okoye highlighted the perils of compressing the electoral process, emphasizing the risks of logistical chaos, a breakdown of law and order, and a potential constitutional crisis.
Okoye’s remarks come amid debates over electoral reforms, with some stakeholders advocating for a unified election day to streamline costs and logistics. However, Okoye argued that such a proposal undermines the powers vested in INEC under the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), which mandates the Commission to “organize, undertake, and supervise” elections for the President, Vice President, Governors, Deputy Governors, and members of the National and State Assemblies. “We must trust the Commission to do the right thing,” he urged, stressing that INEC’s autonomy to sequence elections is critical to ensuring a manageable and credible process.
The former commissioner warned that holding all elections simultaneously could “put all democratic structures at risk.” He pointed to the possibility of unforeseen disruptions, such as a breakdown of law and order, which could paralyze the electoral process on a single day.
Okoye also referenced the constitutional requirements under Sections 64, 105, and 180, which stipulate that elected officials—Presidents, Governors, and legislators—must vacate office after four years. A failed election day, he cautioned, could precipitate a vacuum in governance, leading to a constitutional crisis and potential “democratic reversal.”
“Secondly, it is dangerous to put all democratic structures at risk,” Okoye stated. “We must leave room to recalibrate the electoral process to avert a constitutional crisis.” He advocated for staggered elections, as currently practiced, to allow INEC to address logistical challenges, deploy resources effectively, and mitigate risks that could arise from concentrating all electoral activities into one day.
Okoye’s position aligns with his broader call for political parties and stakeholders to strengthen internal mechanisms and support INEC’s efforts to uphold electoral integrity. He noted that the Commission has introduced reforms such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IREV) to enhance transparency, but these systems require phased implementation to be effective. A single election day, he implied, could overwhelm these technologies and INEC’s operational capacity.
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