National Assembly to Review 2027 Election Date Amid Ramadan

The National Assembly of Nigeria will reconvene on February 17, 2026, to discuss the possibility of reviewing the date for the 2027 presidential election, which is currently set for February 20, 2027. This decision comes amid concerns from lawmakers regarding the election date coinciding with Ramadan, which runs from February 7 to March 8, 2027.

Senator Kamoru Ogunlana announced the resumption of plenary sessions, and multiple sources within the Assembly indicated that the Senate may consider shifting the election date. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has acknowledged these concerns.

Additionally, the Senate recently approved electronic transmission of election results, but rejected calls for mandatory real-time uploads from polling units. The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, faced challenges during deliberations, particularly from Islamic groups and political figures who argue that the current election date is insensitive.

A joint committee of the National Assembly is expected to harmonize differing electoral amendment bills before they are transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent.