Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to review its timetable for the 2027 general elections, warning that the current schedule clashes directly with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

INEC has fixed the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, with governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls to follow on March 6. The commission maintains that the dates comply with constitutional provisions governing the conduct and timing of national elections.

But projections from Islamic authorities indicate that Ramadan is expected to commence around February 8 and run until about March 10, 2027. This would place both election days squarely within a period when millions of Muslims across Nigeria will be observing dawn-to-dusk fasting and heightened spiritual activities.

In a statement, Atiku argued that holding such consequential elections during Ramadan risks depressing voter turnout and undermining the quality of participation, particularly in the predominantly Muslim North. He described Ramadan as a season of fasting, reflection and intense devotion, noting that the physical and spiritual demands of the month are at odds with the rigours of electioneering.

According to him, elections are not routine administrative tasks but national exercises that demand maximum participation, physical endurance and collective focus from citizens, political parties and electoral officials alike. Scheduling them in the middle of a major religious observance, he said, reflects poor judgment and a lack of sensitivity to Nigeria’s complex social and religious landscape.

Atiku framed the controversy as a test of INEC’s capacity for inclusive and competent planning in a multi-religious democracy. In his view, a commission that struggles with something as basic as timing raises doubts about its readiness to deliver credible polls.

He urged INEC to consult widely with religious leaders, civil society and political stakeholders and to announce new dates that respect constitutional timelines while avoiding conflict with major religious obligations. Such a move, he suggested, would signal respect for diversity and help build confidence ahead of the 2027 elections.