Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently reconsider the February 20, 2027 date fixed for the presidential and National Assembly elections, citing its overlap with the Ramadan fasting period.
INEC had announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 20, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
However, Atiku said the February 20 date falls within Ramadan, expected to run from February 7 to March 8, 2027, and warned that conducting elections during the sacred period could affect participation.
“Elections are not mere administrative rituals; they are national exercises that demand maximum participation, physical endurance, and collective focus,” Atiku said in a statement.
He argued that fixing a general election during a major religious observance reflects “poor judgment and a troubling lack of sensitivity to the nation’s socio-religious realities.”
According to the former vice president, inclusive planning is fundamental in a diverse country like Nigeria, adding that the choice of date raises concerns about the Commission’s preparedness to conduct credible elections.
“If INEC struggles with getting a simple matter of timing right, Nigerians are justified in asking: what assurance do we have that it will competently deliver free, fair, and credible elections in 2027?” he said.
Atiku urged the electoral body to reconsider the date in the interest of inclusivity and broad voter participation.