Why INEC election timetable should stand

Do the conduct and participation in an election run contrary to or conflict with the practices and activities of Ramadan in any way? Ramadan is a holy month to the Muslims and is devoted to fasting, prayers, and spiritual reflections. It does not preclude the adherents from carrying on with other regular activities like going to work, markets, travelling, interacting with others, and involvement in public activities and services. It will therefore be strange to suggest that canvassing for votes and voting in an election will affect Ramadan fasting. In fact, here in Nigeria and even outside, elections have been held during Ramadan at different times. Here are a few facts to buttress the above statement. 

In 1979, the presidential election that brought Shehu Shagari to power was conducted on August 11. The election to the senate was held on July 7, and the election to the House of Representatives took place on July 14, all within the month of Ramadan, which lasted between July 26 and August 24.  Senegal, a country with an estimated Muslim population of 95%, held its last presidential election on March 24, 2024, 13 days into Ramadan, which started on March 11 of that year. Turkey, whose Muslim population is put at from 88% and above, held its last local elections on March 31, 2024 (right in the middle of Ramadan). And Indonesia, which has 89% Muslim population, held its presidential election on July 9, 2014, during Ramadan that year, which was between June 29 and July 28. 

In fact, Ramadan this year is expected start Tuesday February 17, while Lent, the 40-days fasting among many Christian faithful, will commence today, Wednesday, February 18, and later in the week is the Area Council Election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Will this be the first time religious followers in Nigeria will kick against an election date falling within their fasting or religious season? No. In 2003, the presidential election that saw President Olusegun Obasanjo re-elected as president was held on Saturday April 19, the day after Good Friday and the day before Easter Sunday, which are very important religious dates for Christians. Despite complaints by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), the Catholic Bishops Conference and, interestingly, the support of then presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari, the date was not changed. 

Informed public opinions weighed against moving the dates of the election then, as it could have led to a constitutional crisis, given that the constitution provided a clear window period within which to conduct an election before the end of an incumbent’s tenure.

In one of such opinion commentaries in ThisDay newspaper of March 18, 2003, Lagos-based lawyer and human rights advocate, Obo Effanga made a strong case for the election to go ahead in the middle of Easter, to avert a constitutional crisis. Interestingly, that writer is today one of Nigeria’s most experienced and respected Resident Electoral Commissioners (REC). First appointed in 2017, Effanga has conducted elections in Rivers, Edo, Bayelsa, and is currently serving as REC in Akwa Ibom State. It is dispassionate and non-sectarian reasoning as above that needs to be brought to the table now in this discussion.

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Equally interesting is the fact that the dates fixed for the 2027 General Elections also fall within Lent for the Christians, which starts on February 10 to March 25. So, if the election dates must move, they may have to be moved to either before or after Ramadan and Lent.

For now, it cannot be moved to before Ramadan and Lent, as that would breach the 360 days’ notice that INEC is required to give before an election. If the dates have to move to after Ramadan and Lent, it would mean after March 28, 2027, being Easter. Where would the above leave us?

If the elections must be on a Saturday, then the first Saturday after Easter 2027 will be April 3. Assuming the Presidential and National Assembly Elections are fixed for that date, then the governorship and House of Assembly elections will be held two weeks later on April 17. Although both dates still fall within the constitutional window period of not less than 30 days to the end of tenures, it is dangerously too close to the end of the window and would not allow enough time for the dust after the elections to settle before the winners take over office. Besides, there could be run-offs in the next election, meaning that we should not box ourselves into a tight corner as far as dates are concerned. 

Yet, the bigger question, however, is, should Nigeria allow religious sentiments to continue influencing key decisions as the dates of its elections, which are governed more by the constitution, as the grund norm, conscious of the fact that the religious dates keep moving?

•Yusuf is a retired community relations specialist based in Lagos.