The Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas has explained why the National Assembly amended the Electoral Act to reduce the mandatory election notice period from 360 days to 300 days ahead of the 2027 general elections saying the adjustment will help avoid a clash with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and improve voter participation. President Bola Tinubu signed the amended bill into law on Wednesday in the presence of the leadership of both chambers of the National Assembly.

Abbas spoke to reporters at the State House Abuja where he said lawmakers recognised that the previous timeline could force the Presidential and National Assembly elections into the Ramadan period in 2027, which could hurt turnout logistics and the inclusiveness of the polls. Reducing the notice period allows the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) greater flexibility to schedule elections earlier in the year including late December 2026 or January 2027 if needed.

The amendment to Clause 28 of the Electoral Act now requires INEC to publish an official notice of election “not later than 300 days before the day appointed for holding of an election” outlining the **election date and where nomination papers are to be delivered”. This replaces the previous 360-day requirement under the earlier law.

Abbas described the reduction as a necessary technical tweak not intended to shorten preparations but to provide practical breathing space for election planning while respecting religious practices. He said the change responds to concerns from various stakeholders about avoiding an election calendar that overlaps with fasting and prayer observances which could disproportionately affect some voters.

The new Electoral Act also includes other significant provisions debated by lawmakers such as electronic transmission of results with manual backup where necessary a point that generated robust discussion in both chambers during the amendment process. Civil society groups have reacted to the changes with mixed views with some insisting on stronger transparency measures in the law even as the harmonised bill moves closer to becoming fully operational for the 2027 polls.