EXCLUSIVE: INEC set to shift 2027 poll dates amid protest from Northern leaders over clash with Ramadan
By Ishaya Ibrahim
Barely 24 hours after rolling out the 2027 general election time table, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is set to tinker with the dates, TheNiche can authoritatively report.
A source privy to the development informed the newspaper that the Commission has been inundated with concerns from Northern Muslim leaders urging a change to the timetable for presidential and governorship elections due to its overlap with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
As a result, the commission whose chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, recently faced criticism from some northern leaders over previous comments that appeared to support claims of Christian genocide, is reportedly considering shifting the presidential poll from the announced February 20 date to the first Saturday after Ramadan in March.
INEC officially released the timetable on Friday, setting presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated for March 6, 2027.
But soon after, the Commission went into a marathon meeting amid objections to the dates clashing with the Muslim fasting period.
READ ALSO: INEC releases 2027 election timetable, presidential election holds February 20, governorship March 6
Sources privy to discussions within INEC told TheNiche that the first Saturday in March after the fasting period is strongly being suggested for the presidential and National Assembly polls, with governorship and state assembly elections to hold two weeks later.
It is unclear whether any adjustment to the dates for presidential and governorship elections would affect other scheduled activities for the 2027 elections.
According to the INEC timetable, party primaries including the resolution of disputes arising from them, are expected to commence on May 22, 2026, and end on June 20, 2026.
Submission of nomination forms by political parties via the INEC online portal for national elections will open on July 14, 2026, and close on July 28, 2026.
For state elections, the submission period is between August 11 and August 25, 2026, with access codes to be made available to parties at INEC headquarters on July 13.
The commission also scheduled the publication of personal particulars of candidates for presidential and National Assembly elections for August 4, while those for governorship and state assembly polls will be published on September 1.
The timetable fixed August 25 as the last day for withdrawal or replacement of candidates for national elections, and September 24 for state-level candidates.
