The Senate has amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the mandatory notice period for general elections from 360 days to 300 days ahead of the 2027 polls.
The revision grants the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) greater flexibility to schedule the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections within a window between December 2026 and January 2027.
Under the amended Clause 28, the Commission is required to publish a notice of election “not later than 300 days before the day appointed for holding of an election,” in each state of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The notice must state the date of the election and specify where nomination papers are to be submitted.
The adjustment was approved on Tuesday during the Senate’s clause-by-clause consideration of the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill. The move followed a motion on rescission and recommittal sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele concerning the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Enactment) Bill, 2026.
Bamidele explained that a careful review of the earlier version of the bill revealed that the 360-day notice requirement could inadvertently push the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections into the Ramadan period.
According to him, conducting elections during Ramadan could pose challenges to voter turnout, logistics, stakeholder engagement, and the overall inclusiveness and credibility of the process.
The Senate’s review also uncovered drafting inconsistencies affecting the bill’s Long Title and several clauses, including Clauses 6, 9, 10, 22, 23, 28, 29, 32, 42, 47, 51, 60, 62, 64, 65, 73, 77, 86, 87, 89, 93, and 143. Lawmakers noted issues relating to cross-referencing, serial numbering, and internal consistency, prompting further corrections.
The amendment marks a significant procedural adjustment as lawmakers continue fine-tuning Nigeria’s electoral framework ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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