By Our Correspondent
The Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) urges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review its proposed 2027 general election timetable, which coincides with the sacred month of Ramadan. This appeal stems from a commitment to fairness and inclusivity, rather than opposition to democracy.
Disu Kamor Executive Chairman
Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria, stated this in a statement signed yesterday.
As a nation built on diversity, Nigeria's strength lies in its ability to accommodate and respect the needs of all citizens. With over 200 million people, our national institutions must prioritize fairness and equity in decision-making. Scheduling a major national exercise like a general election during Ramadan, a month of obligatory fasting for millions of Muslims, raises legitimate concerns that warrant consideration.
MPAC emphasizes that this appeal is not driven by sectarian interests but by a desire to ensure that all citizens can fully participate in the electoral process. We believe that a slight adjustment to the election timetable would be a testament to INEC's commitment to fairness and national cohesion.
Ramadan is not a symbolic ritual. It is a compulsory act of worship that demands physical endurance, spiritual discipline, and heightened devotion. Fasting Muslims abstain from food and water from dawn until sunset. In many parts of Nigeria - especially in the North - this coincides with intense heat conditions. Elections in Nigeria are already physically demanding: long queues, delayed commencement, logistical bottlenecks, and exposure to harsh weather. Expecting citizens and electoral officials to shoulder these rigours while fasting inevitably imposes an additional burden.
Participation in elections is a civic duty. But the government also has a responsibility to ensure that no group is placed at a structural disadvantage in fulfilling that duty.
There is precedent. In 2003, INEC adjusted its timetable following concerns raised by Christian leaders over a clash with Easter observances. In a statement at the time, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) said INEC's decision demonstrated "insensitivity to the religious commitments of a large segment of the population". INEC's decision to respect the Christian objection and made the adjustments demanded was widely regarded as sensitive and statesmanlike. A simple application of this precedent in the 2027 General Elections schedule would have prevented the clash with Ramadan, and the concerns it has generated amongst Muslim Nigerians.
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. If elections held during Ramadan result in significantly lower voter turnout in Muslim-majority areas due to fasting constraints, the outcome would amount to de facto disenfranchisement. Democracy thrives on participation; it suffers when citizens are discouraged - whether directly or indirectly - from exercising their franchise.
Globally, responsible institutions demonstrate sensitivity to religious observances. The Joint Council for Qualifications in the United Kingdom has in recent years taken deliberate steps to minimize clashes between major public examinations and Ramadan, working with Muslim communities to protect students from undue hardship. If examination bodies can make such accommodations in the interest of fairness, surely a national electoral commission can prioritize the same consideration in a country as religiously diverse as Nigeria.
We must also stress that public confidence in INEC’s neutrality is essential to democratic stability. In a situation where the Chairman of INEC, Professor Joash Amupitan, is already seen as a polarising figure due to his now discredited legal brief on the security crisis in Nigeria, perceptions of bias - whether political or religious - must be proactively avoided. The Commission must not only be impartial; it must be seen to be impartial. Sensitivity to Ramadan would strengthen that perception and enhance public trust.
Let it be clear: Muslims are not asking for preferential treatment. We are asking for equal consideration. We are not challenging the legitimacy of elections. We are urging that the timing of such elections should not inadvertently disadvantage a significant segment of the voting population.
Democracy is not weakened by accommodation; it is strengthened by it.
MPAC therefore calls on INEC to:
- Revisit and adjust the 2027 election timetable to fall outside the month of Ramadan.
- Engage relevant religious and civil society stakeholders in consultative dialogue.
- Demonstrate its commitment to fairness by ensuring that no decisions by the Commission will bear any religious bias and that no religious group bears disproportionate hardship in the exercise of civic responsibility.
Nigeria belongs to all of us. The ballot must unite, not divide. And leadership, especially at critical national moments, must be guided by wisdom, fairness, and justice.
-The End-
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