The Senate has amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the required notice period for elections by 60 days—from 360 days to 300 days. This change gives the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) greater flexibility to set election dates between December 2026 and January 2027.
The revised Clause 28 now mandates that “the Commission shall, not later than 300 days before the day appointed for holding of an election under this Bill, publish a notice in each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory—(a) stating the date of the election; and (b) appointing the place at which nomination papers are to be delivered.”
This amendment was adopted on Tuesday during the Senate’s clause-by-clause review of the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill. It followed a motion by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele on the Rescission and Re-Committal of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026.
Bamidele explained that upon reviewing the bill, the initial 360-day notice requirement in Clause 28 could have forced the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections to take place during Ramadan. He warned that conducting elections during Ramadan could adversely affect voter turnout, logistics, stakeholder participation, and the credibility of the electoral process.
The motion also identified inconsistencies in the bill’s Long Title and several clauses—including Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143—relating to cross-referencing, serial numbering, and internal consistency.
Rowdy Senate Session
Earlier, Senate proceedings were briefly disrupted during the detailed consideration of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026. The motion to rescind the previous amendment was formally seconded, allowing the Senate to move into a committee session for in-depth reconsideration.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio read out each clause for deliberation. However, the process stalled at Clause 60 when Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (ADC/Abia South) raised a point of order. This sparked murmurs in the chamber, with lawmakers consulting in small groups and approaching the Senate President’s desk. The session quickly moved behind closed doors.
Eventually, the Senate passed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill 2026. Akpabio claimed that a previous demand had been withdrawn, but opposition senators objected. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, citing Order 52(6), argued that it was out of order to revisit provisions already ruled on by the Senate President, prompting further uproar. Senator Sunday Karimi and Senator Abaribe briefly clashed before Senate Leader Bamidele clarified that his motion for rescission had rendered previous Senate decisions invalid, making Abaribe’s demand legitimate.
Akpabio suggested Abaribe’s call for a division was intended to publicly register his stance. He upheld Abaribe’s point of order, prompting Abaribe to formally move his motion.
Invoking Order 72(1), Abaribe called for a division on Clause 60(3), specifically challenging the provision that Form EC8A should not serve as the sole basis for results if electronic transmission fails, and called for the removal of the proviso allowing manual transmission in case of network failure.
During the division, Akpabio directed senators to physically stand for their positions. Fifteen opposition senators opposed the proviso, while 55 supported it.
Election Dates and Stakeholder Concerns
On February 13, INEC released the official timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, including dates for voting, primaries, campaigns, and voter registration. According to the schedule, the Presidential and National Assembly elections are set for Saturday, February 20, 2027, with governorship and State Assembly elections following on March 6, 2027.
However, the election dates have raised concerns, especially among Muslims, as they fall within Ramadan. Critics argue that fasting could affect voter participation, logistics, observer activities, and the efficiency of electoral officials.
Former Vice President and PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar has urged INEC to reconsider the February 20 date due to its overlap with Ramadan, highlighting worries about voter turnout and inclusiveness.
In response, INEC, through a statement by National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna, acknowledged stakeholders’ concerns about the clash with major religious observances. The commission stated it is consulting with stakeholders and may seek legislative intervention if necessary, while ensuring any adjustments comply with constitutional and statutory requirements.
