Bashir Ahmad Urges INEC to Reconsider 2027 Election Schedule Over Ramadan

Because the dates of the 2027 general elections coincide with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, former presidential adviser Bashir Ahmad has encouraged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reevaluate the calendar.

In a previous announcement of the election schedule, INEC set the dates for the governorship and state assembly elections for March 6, 2027, and the presidential and national assembly elections for February 20, 2027.

After the dates were announced, Ahmad responded on his 𝕏 Twitter, calling his stance a “respectful observation”.

“After the announcement of February 20th and March 6th, 2027, as the dates for the next Presidential and National Assembly and Governorship and State Assembly elections, respectively,” he said, “this is a respectful observation.”

He asserts that the suggested dates coincide with the holy month of Ramadan.

The suggested dates coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, when many Muslims spend a lot of time in prayer, fasting, and introspection, he continued.

Ahmad maintained that conducting elections during Ramadan might have an impact on Muslim voters’ turnout.

“Scheduling such a crucial national exercise during Ramadan may present challenges for a large segment of the population if the intention is to encourage full and inclusive participation in the electoral process,” he added.

“In order to concentrate on their religious duties, many Muslims tend to reduce their involvement in demanding worldly activities during this time.”

The former aide emphasized that when organizing national events, Nigeria’s religious diversity must be taken into account.

Considering the sizeable Muslim population in this nation, it could be beneficial to reevaluate the date in order to guarantee greater involvement and ease for all residents. He said, “I sincerely hope that this observation will be interpreted in a way that promotes inclusivity and national unity.