Atiku Faults INEC’s 2027 Election Date, Says Fixing Polls During Ramadan Shows “Poor Judgment”

Former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to urgently reconsider the recently announced February 20, 2027 date for Nigeria’s next general elections, warning that the timing was insensitive and potentially disruptive to national participation.

In a statement, Atiku said the scheduled date falls squarely within the Ramadan fasting period, which runs from February 7 to March 8, 2027. He stressed that holding nationwide elections during a sacred month of fasting, prayer, and reflection for millions of Muslims showed “poor judgment” and a lack of awareness of Nigeria’s religious and cultural diversity.

According to the former presidential candidate, elections are far more than administrative exercises — they require full citizen engagement, physical resilience, and collective focus.

“Fixing such a critical civic exercise in the middle of a major religious observance reflects poor judgment and a troubling lack of sensitivity to the nation’s socio-religious realities,” he said.

Atiku argued that in a country as diverse as Nigeria, inclusive planning was not optional but fundamental, adding that something as basic as choosing an appropriate and acceptable date should not be mishandled.

He warned that if INEC was already struggling with a “simple matter of timing,” Nigerians have legitimate concerns about the commission’s ability to conduct free, fair, and credible elections in 2027.

“If INEC struggles with getting a simple matter of timing right, Nigerians are justified in asking: what assurance do we have that it will competently deliver free, fair, and credible elections in 2027?”

Atiku urged the commission to review the timetable immediately and adopt a date that respects the religious commitments of citizens while safeguarding the integrity and inclusiveness of the electoral process.

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