The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to reconsider its proposed timetable for the 2027 general elections, citing concerns that the schedule coincides with the Ramadan period.
In a statement issued on Sunday, MPAC said its appeal was based on “faith and fairness,” emphasizing that it does not oppose the democratic process.
The organization argued that conducting nationwide elections during Ramadan, when millions of Muslims observe daily fasting from dawn to sunset, could create avoidable challenges for both voters and electoral officials.
“Ramadan is not a symbolic ritual. It is a compulsory act of worship that demands physical endurance, spiritual discipline, and heightened devotion,” the statement read.
MPAC noted that fasting, particularly under intense heat conditions in parts of the north, could add to the physical strain often associated with elections, including long queues, delayed commencement of voting, and logistical bottlenecks.
While affirming that participation in elections is a civic duty, the group stressed that public institutions have a responsibility to ensure that no segment of the population is placed at a structural disadvantage in exercising that responsibility.
The organization cited a 2003 precedent when INEC adjusted its timetable following concerns raised by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) over a clash with Easter observances.
According to MPAC, the adjustment was widely viewed as an act of sensitivity and statesmanship.
It also pointed to international examples, including the Joint Council for Qualifications in the United Kingdom, which has taken steps in recent years to reduce scheduling conflicts between major public examinations and Ramadan.
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The statement further underscored the need to maintain public trust in INEC’s neutrality.
It said perceptions surrounding the commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, make it important for the electoral body to take decisions that reinforce impartiality and inclusiveness.
“A modest shift in dates to avoid the Ramadan period does not violate any constitutional provision. Rather, it affirms Nigeria’s commitment to inclusion and equity,” MPAC stated, warning that significantly lower voter turnout in Muslim-majority areas due to fasting could amount to indirect disenfranchisement.
The group called for an adjustment of the 2027 election timetable to fall outside Ramadan, engagement with religious and civil society stakeholders, and assurances that no religious group would bear disproportionate hardship in fulfilling civic responsibilities.
