The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has defended the dates set for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, following concerns from stakeholders over the timing of the polls.
The commission had announced on Friday that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 20, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
It also announced that party primaries are set to take place from May 22 to June 20, 2026, alongside other key dates for campaigns and voter registration. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed the timetable at a news conference in Abuja, noting that the schedule is designed to ensure a smooth and credible electoral process.
The announcement has, however, sparked concerns over the February 20 date, which falls within Ramadan, running from February 7 to March 8, 2027.
Notable among those raising concerns is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who argued that holding elections during the holy month of Ramadan could affect participation for millions of Nigerian Muslims.
“Elections are not mere administrative rituals; they are national exercises that demand maximum participation, physical endurance, and collective focus,” Atiku said. “Fixing such a critical civic exercise in the middle of a major religious observance reflects poor judgment and a troubling lack of sensitivity to the nation’s socio-religious realities.”
He added that in a diverse country like Nigeria, inclusive planning is fundamental and questioned the Commission’s competence if it “struggles with getting a simple matter of timing right.”
In response, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the timetable was developed “in strict compliance with the Timelines contained in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the Electoral Act, 2022, and the INEC Guidelines and Regulations for the Conduct of Elections, 2022.”
The commission explained that its Regulations and Guidelines, in place since 2019, provide that election to the offices of President and Vice President, as well as the National Assembly, shall hold on the third Saturday of February in a general election year, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections shall hold two weeks later.
“Accordingly, and in faithful observance of these extant legal and regulatory provisions, the Commission fixed Saturday, 20th February 2027 for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections and Saturday, 6th March 2027, for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections,” the statement read.
However, the commission said it “remains sensitive to all legitimate concerns that may impact electoral participation and the overall conduct of elections,” and disclosed that it “is currently undertaking consultations and may, where necessary, seek appropriate legislative intervention to address the concerns raised, while ensuring that any adjustment remains consistent with constitutional and statutory requirements.”
Professor Amupitan reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to transparency and credible elections, assuring the public that any updates to the timetable would be communicated promptly.