2027 Elections and Ramadan: INEC Opens Talks, Says No Voter Will Be Left Out
By: Oluwaseun Lawal
The dates are fixed. But the conversation isn’t over.
When the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released its timetable for the 2027 General Election, it seemed straightforward. Presidential and National Assembly polls on February 20, 2027. Governorship and State Assembly elections on March 6. Party primaries scheduled between May 22 and June 20, 2026. Clear timeline. Legal backing. Process moving.
Then came the concern.
Many Nigerians, particularly within the Muslim community, pointed out that both election dates fall within Ramadan — the fasting month expected to run from February 7 to March 8, 2027. A period of dawn-to-sunset fasting. Prayer. Reflection. Physical restraint.
The worry is simple: long queues, intense heat, logistical stress — all while fasting — could discourage turnout or affect the efficiency of electoral officers and observers.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was among the first high-profile voices to raise the issue. In a post on X, he described the overlap as significant, noting that Ramadan is a sacred season for millions of Muslims across the country. He urged the commission to reconsider.
Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad echoed similar sentiments. He argued that if inclusivity is the goal, then timing matters. Many Muslims, he said, intentionally scale down demanding activities during fasting. Elections are demanding. Physically and mentally.
INEC has now responded.
In a statement issued by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, the commission explained that the timetable was not randomly selected. It was anchored on the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines.
According to the regulations — in force since 2019 — presidential and National Assembly elections are to hold on the third Saturday of February in a general election year. Governorship and State Assembly polls follow two weeks later. That framework, INEC says, guided the February 20 and March 6 dates.
Still, the commission acknowledged the concerns.
Haruna stated that INEC is sensitive to issues that may affect participation. Consultations are ongoing. And where necessary, the commission may seek legislative intervention to address the overlap — provided any adjustment stays within constitutional limits.
In short: the dates were lawful. But the feedback is being heard.
INEC insists it remains committed to transparency, inclusiveness, and credible elections. And if anything changes, Nigerians will be informed.
For now, the timetable stands. The dialogue continues. And 2027 inches closer.
