The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday approved an amendment to the Electoral Act 2026, reducing the mandatory notice period for general elections from 360 days to 300 days.
The amendment is aimed at preventing the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections from holding during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, moved the motion to rescind and recommit the bill. He explained that the original 360-day requirement could force the Independent National Electoral Commission to fix elections during Ramadan.
He warned that conducting elections during the fasting period could affect voter turnout, disrupt logistics, reduce stakeholder participation, and weaken the credibility and inclusiveness of the electoral process.
Following the amendment of Clause 28, INEC is now required to publish election notices “not later than 300 days” before the polls. The notice must include the election date and nomination procedures.
The change came after consultations between the leadership of the National Assembly and INEC.
Earlier, the commission had fixed February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, and March 6, 2027, for the governorship and state assembly elections.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Simon Lalong, said the election dates were not deliberately chosen to clash with Ramadan.
He explained that the dates followed a long-term election timetable designed by former INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, which covers elections from 2019 to 2031.
The amendment was passed quickly after the Senate relied on its standing orders to revisit and approve the bill.
