Hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC announced the Notice of Election and Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Elections, setting February 20, 2027, as the date for the Presidential and National Assembly polls. Some Nigerians has raised strong concerns about the election dates.
Former aid to late President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmaad says ‘If INEC reconsiders the 2027 election dates it has just announced, which fall within our holy month of Ramadan, it would be a welcome decision in the interest of broader participation’.
He wrote in another tweet:
‘If the intention is to encourage full and inclusive participation in the electoral process, scheduling such a critical national exercise during Ramadan may present challenges for a large segment of the population. Many Muslims tend to reduce engagement in demanding worldly activities during this period in order to focus on religious obligations’.
‘Given the significant Muslim population in this country, it may be worthwhile to reconsider the timing to ensure broader participation and convenience for all citizens’.
Businessman, Sanusi Dantata also call on INEC to review its date. He wrote on his X handle: ‘Since there is flexibility in the dates of the general elections, I call on @inecnigeria to consider moving the dates of the 2027 general elections to days that do not fall within the holy month of Ramadhan in the year 2027’.
More Nigeria have continued to raise same concerns as the Ramadan period is an holy month observed by several Nigerians.
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan while addressing members of the press in Abuja described the announcement as “a significant milestone in our democratic journey” and a constitutional obligation aimed at consolidating Nigeria’s democracy.
According to the Commission:
* Presidential & National Assembly Elections – February 20, 2027
* Governorship & State Houses of Assembly Elections – March 6, 2027
The elections will cover the offices of:
* President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
* Governors and Deputy Governors (except in Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun States)
* Members of the Senate
* Members of the House of Representatives
* Members of the State Houses of Assembly
Prof. Amupitan emphasized that the release of the Notice complies strictly with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandates publication not later than 360 days before the election date.
