The Nigerian senate on Tuesday reduced the mandatory election notice under Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill from 360 days to 300 days.
According to senate leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), the adjustment ensures that the 2027 presidential and national assembly elections will not coincide with Ramadan, safeguarding voter turnout and operational efficiency.
The revised clause now requires the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish election dates and nomination locations at least 300 days before polls.
Also, the motion addressed technical discrepancies across multiple clauses, improving cross-references, serial numbering, and internal consistency in the bill.
Following INEC’s earlier timetable, the 2027 elections were tentatively set for February, a period overlapping with Ramadan.
The bill, originally passed earlier in February 2026, had previously seen reductions in certain timelines such as to 180 days in initial versions.
