Nigeria’s former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review the scheduled date for the 2027 general elections, which coincides with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.
News.ng recalls that earlier on Friday, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, announced the dates for the 2027 general elections, fixing February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
This has generated controversy among Nigerians, particularly Muslims in the country, who are calling for a review of the date.
However, according to the Islamic calendar, Ramadan in 2027 is expected to run from February 7 to March 8. This period will be observed by Muslims through fasting, prayers, and intensive spiritual devotion.
Meanwhile, Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2023, in a post on X on Friday night, expressed reservations about the timing of the election, saying a critical national exercise should not clash with a major religious activity.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must urgently reconsider the February 20, 2027 date it has announced for the general elections. That date falls squarely within the Ramadan period (February 7 – March 8, 2027), a sacred season of fasting, reflection, and spiritual devotion for millions of Nigerian Muslims,” he said.
Atiku, who served as Vice President of Nigeria between 1999 and 2007, stated that the importance attached to the general elections, which demand physical attention, could be exhausting, hence making the fast less effective for Muslims.
“Elections are not mere administrative rituals; they are national exercises that demand maximum participation, physical endurance, and collective focus. 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,” Atiku stated.
While Nigeria is a multicultural and multi-religious society, the former Vice President underscored the importance of inclusive planning, adding that fixing election dates must be in sync with national sensitivity and foresight.
“In a diverse country like Nigeria, inclusive planning is not optional; it is fundamental. Something as basic as choosing a broadly acceptable date should not be mishandled. It speaks to competence, foresight, and respect for citizens,” he added.
“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 queried.
