Senate reduces election notice to 300 days, gives INEC flexibility to avoid Ramadan clash
The Senate has amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, reducing the notice period for elections by 60 days—from 360 days to 300 days—thereby granting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) greater flexibility to fix election dates between December 2026 and January 2027.
The revised Clause 28 provides that “the Commission shall, not later than 300 days before the day appointed for the holding of an election under this Bill, publish a notice in each State of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory stating: (a) the date of the election; and (b) the place at which nomination papers are to be delivered.”
The amendment was adopted on Tuesday during clause-by-clause consideration of the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill, following a motion for rescission and re-committal moved by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, on the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2026.
Bamidele explained that a critical review of the previously passed version of the bill showed that the 360-day notice requirement under Clause 28 could inadvertently result in the scheduling of the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections during the Ramadan period.
According to him, conducting elections during Ramadan could adversely affect voter turnout, logistical coordination, stakeholder participation, and the overall inclusiveness and credibility of the electoral process.
The motion also drew attention to discrepancies identified in the long title and several clauses of the bill—namely Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143. These issues were said to affect cross-referencing, serial numbering, and internal consistency within the legislation.
