Senate Reduces Election Notice to 300 Days for 2027 Polls

On October 24, 2023, the Nigerian Senate amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act, reducing the election notice period from 360 days to 300 days. This change aims to prevent the 2027 presidential and national assembly elections from coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, representing Ekiti Central and serving as the Senate leader, moved the motion to rescind the earlier passage of the bill, which had mandated a 360-day notice period. The Senate, after reviewing criticisms, adopted the revised clause, ensuring that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must fix election dates at least 300 days in advance.

The Senate also retained a provision allowing for manual transmission of election results in case of electronic transmission failures due to network challenges. The amendment followed consultations with INEC, which had initially set the presidential election for February 20, 2027, and the governorship and state assembly polls for March 6, 2027.