The Nigerian Senate has amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026, reducing the statutory notice period for general elections from 360 days to 300 days to prevent the 2027 presidential and National Assembly polls from coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The move followed deliberations on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, when the chamber rescinded its earlier passage of the bill and recommitted it to the Committee of the Whole amid concerns the 360-day requirement could push election dates into Ramadan, with implications for voter turnout, logistics, and participation.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said aligning the timetable outside Ramadan would strengthen inclusiveness and improve operational efficiency.
Under the revised provision, the electoral commission must publish election notices not later than 300 days before polling day, stating the election date and locations for submission of nomination papers across all states, the Federal Capital Territory, and affected constituencies.
The amendment followed consultations after February 20, 2027, was fixed for presidential and National Assembly elections, with governorship and State Assembly polls scheduled for March 6, 2027.
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Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Simon Lalong, said the timetable was not deliberately set to clash with Ramadan.
The Senate also retained a safeguard allowing manual transmission of results where electronic transmission fails.
After a division, 55 senators voted in favour and 15 against. Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the decision protects the integrity of the electoral process.
Electronic transmission remains the standard, while the duly signed Form EC8A will serve as the official record in the event of network failure.
The Senate subsequently passed the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2026.