Sonny Iroche’s plan to separate Nigeria’s House elections from presidential contests would need a constitutional amendment, making its path to adoption dependent on broad support across federal and state legislatures.
The finance executive outlined the proposal in an opinion piece for BusinessDay. He wants House elections held halfway through a president’s term, while Senate races remain on the presidential schedule. Under the plan, House members would serve one transitional two-year term before returning to four-year terms. The essay identifies no bill or legislative sponsor.
Section 64 of Nigeria’s constitution says both chambers stand dissolved four years after the House of Representatives first sits. National Assembly guidance sets the amendment threshold at two-thirds of all members in each chamber: 73 Senate votes and 240 House votes. Approval from at least 24 of Nigeria’s 36 state assemblies is also required.
Iroche says a separate nationwide election would require money, security personnel and election officials. He also argues that a hostile House could delay a budget for political advantage and that party gatekeepers could narrow voters’ choices.
The U.S. system he cites has a different election schedule: House members face elections every two years, while senators serve six-year terms, with roughly one-third of Senate seats contested every two years. In 2018, Democrats won 235 House seats and Republicans won 199, giving Democrats control of the chamber during President Donald Trump’s first term. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) lists Tuesday, Nov. 3, as the next regularly scheduled U.S. federal general election.
Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) currently schedules presidential and National Assembly elections for Jan. 16, 2027, followed by governorship and state assembly elections on Feb. 6.
