Senate Cuts Election Notice To 300 Days, Gives INEC Flexibility To Avoid Ramadan Clash
The Senate has amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, slashing the notice of election requirements by 60 days, from 360 days to 300, leaving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) the flexibility to fix the election dates between December 2026 and January 2027.
The amended clause 28 states 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 – stating the date of the election; and (b) appointing the place at which nomination papers are to be delivered.”
The amendment was effected on Tuesday during the clause-by-clause consideration of the reworked Electoral Act Amendment bill after the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, raised a motion on the Rescission and Re-Committal of the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026.
Opeyemi underscored that upon critical review of the passed bill, the 360-day notice requirement prescribed in Clause 28 could result in the scheduling of the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections during the Ramadan period.
According to him, holding elections during Ramadan could negatively affect voter turnout, logistical coordination, stakeholder participation, and the overall inclusiveness and credibility of the electoral process.
The motion also highlighted discrepancies discovered in the Long Title and several clauses of the bill, 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. The identified issues reportedly affected cross-referencing, serial numbering, and internal consistency within the legislation.
