INEC

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The All Progressives Congress has claimed three of the six chairmanship seats in the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, while the Peoples Democratic Party took Gwagwalada, according to results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

In AMAC, the incumbent chairman, Christopher Maikalangu of the APC, polled 40,295 votes, defeating his closest rival from the African Democratic Congress, who scored 12,109 votes. The PDP candidate trailed with 3,398 votes.

In Bwari, APC candidate Joshua Ishaku won the chairmanship with 18,466 votes, while the ADC candidate came second with 4,254 votes. The Zenith Labour Party candidate received 3,515 votes.

The ruling party also prevailed in Kwali, where Daniel Nuhu of the APC scored 17,032 votes, defeating the PDP candidate, Haruna Pai, who garnered 8,575 votes.

The PDP secured a major win in Gwagwalada, where Mohammed Kasim defeated his APC rival, Yahaya Shehu, with 22,165 votes to Shehu’s 17,788. Other parties in the race included the Social Democratic Party with 432 votes, the New Nigeria Peoples Party with 175 votes, and the Young Progressives Party with 158 votes. Several smaller parties received minimal support.

INEC Returning Officer, Philip Akpen, described the Gwagwalada election as peaceful and orderly, noting that voting and collation proceeded without major disruptions. Out of 207,577 registered voters, 46,294 were accredited, with 43,960 valid votes and 1,521 rejected ballots.

The results sheets were signed by party agents, including those of APC, PDP, ADC, APGA, YPP, and NNPP. INEC is yet to announce results for the remaining two FCT Area Councils as collation continues.

The elections were closely watched amid a keen contest between the APC and PDP, while smaller parties struggled to gain traction in most declared councils.

By Kamal Alkasim

The PDP candidate’s manifesto during his campaign focused on community welfare, women’s empowerment, improved healthcare services, and enhanced education opportunities for children.

The Premium Times reported that the PDP defeated its contender from the All Progressives Congress (APC), Yahaya Shehu, who scored 17,788 votes.

Declaring Mr Kasim as the winner, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer, Philip Akpen, said the election was peaceful and smooth.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Mohammed Kasim, has won the Gwagwalada Area Council chairmanship in the local government elections held across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday.

Mr Kashim polled 22,165 votes to defeat his rivals in the election.

Mr Kasim’s manifesto during his campaign focused on community welfare, women’s empowerment, improved healthcare services, and enhanced education opportunities for children.

The elections were in two categories: the chairmanship and the councillorship.

PDP pulled through in the election at a time it is facing its most devastating crisis, which has led to division in its national leadership and loss of governors and lawmakers elected on its platform to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its top figures, such as the former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Although the outcome of the local election does not necessarily mirror the PDP’s popularity at the national level, it is a significant victory for the party in a section of Nigeria’s capital, reflecting the country’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious composition.

It may also point to the fact that APC’s enhanced dominance, driven by high-profile defections from opposition parties to its fold in the last year, may not have taken strong hold in many local areas of the country.

INEC conducted the local elections across the six council areas of the FCT, including Gwagwalada, on Saturday. The rest are the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abaji, Kwali, Abaji and Kuje.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has issued a strong warning against vote buying ahead of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections set for February 21.

He spoke on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened to review the commission’s readiness for the exercise. He assured participants that INEC remains committed to delivering a peaceful, transparent, and credible election.

Amupitan disclosed that over 1.6 million registered voters are expected to take part in the polls. Voting will take place across 2,822 polling units. A total of 570 candidates will contest for 68 elective offices spread across the six area councils.

He explained that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be used in all polling units. Election results will also be transmitted instantly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal to strengthen transparency.

The INEC chairman added that 89 observer groups have received accreditation to monitor the process. About 700 journalists will also cover the election. He said several security agencies will be deployed to maintain order.

He noted in particular that personnel from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will be present to prevent vote trading and related offences.

“Any individual found buying or selling votes will be apprehended and dealt with in accordance with the law,” Amupitan said.

“Vote trading undermines the sanctity of the ballot and erodes public confidence in democratic institutions. It must not be tolerated.”

On logistics, Amupitan said 1,132 vehicles, 620 motorcycles, and 14 boats have been arranged for the movement of officials and election materials. He stressed that operational failures must not occur on election day.

He stated that polling units are scheduled to open at 8:30 am. This decision followed consultations with transport unions to ensure early delivery of materials.

The INEC chairman also reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality.

“INEC does not have a political party and does not have a preferred candidate. Our mandate is clear: to provide the enabling environment for residents of the Federal Capital Territory to freely choose their representatives,” he said.

Amupitan urged political parties, candidates, and supporters to maintain peace before and during the election. He also called on security agencies to act professionally and remain impartial throughout the process.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assented to the Electoral Act amendment bill, officially making it part of Nigeria’s electoral legal framework.

The new law comes after the National Assembly concluded work on the legislation on Tuesday. Both chambers had spent several months deliberating on the bill. Lawmakers carried out reviews and introduced a series of amendments before its final passage.

The presidential approval marks the last stage required for the amendment to take effect, following the legislative process.

Details of the new provisions contained in the amended Electoral Act are expected to emerge subsequently.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Assembly have reportedly agreed to revise the timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 elections, moving the presidential poll from February 20 to January 16 and the governorship elections from March 6 to January 30. The decision comes after widespread criticism that the original schedule coincided with the Ramadan fasting period.

Insiders within the electoral body and federal legislature confirmed the shift, describing it as a response to mounting concerns from religious groups, political stakeholders, and civil society organizations.

“After several meetings, both sides agreed that the February date is no longer tenable. The new proposal now on the table is January 16 for the presidential election and January 30 for the governorship polls,” a senior INEC official told newsmen on condition of anonymity.

A ranking senator echoed the development but noted that the proposal would still undergo debate in the National Assembly.

“That is the working proposal. But until it is formally adopted, it remains subject to change,” the lawmaker said.

The change follows intense opposition to the initial schedule. INEC had first set February 20, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly elections, with governorship and state assembly elections slated for March 6. Muslim groups and political actors criticized the timing, pointing out that it fell within the 2027 Ramadan period, projected from February 7 to March 8.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar publicly warned that holding elections during fasting could suppress voter turnout among Muslims. Former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad also urged the commission to reconsider, stressing that meaningful participation could be affected during a period traditionally devoted to fasting and spiritual reflection.

Over the weekend, some lawmakers reportedly proposed February 13 as a compromise. However, fresh consultations between INEC and the National Assembly appear to have produced a more substantial adjustment, pushing the elections into January. If approved, January 16 would rank among the earliest presidential election dates in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic.

The National Assembly acted swiftly to reflect the urgency of the matter. Clerk to the National Assembly Kamoru Ogunlana directed senators and members of the House of Representatives to reconvene at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, for what was described as a session to take “very crucial decisions.”

Although the official notice did not outline the agenda, insiders confirmed that reconsideration of the 2027 election timetable was the primary reason for the emergency plenary session. Consequently, a conference committee meeting scheduled for Monday to harmonize differences in the Electoral Act Amendment Bill was suspended.

Sada Soli, a member of the House conference committee, confirmed the suspension, while another member, Iduma Igariwey, acknowledged the postponement. A Senate source said lawmakers would prioritize resolving the sensitive issue of election dates before returning to other contested provisions of the bill.

The proposed change signals INEC’s willingness to respond to public and political pressure, illustrating the influence of citizen engagement, religious concerns, and political discourse in shaping electoral arrangements in Nigeria.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Kano State chapter of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has asked President Bola Tinubu to remove the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the date fixed for the 2027 presidential election.

The party made its position known on Saturday through a statement issued by its Kano State Publicity Secretary, Ibrahim Karaye.

In the statement, the party said the presidential poll has been scheduled for 20 February 2027. It noted that the date falls within the Ramadan fasting period observed by Muslims.

The NNPP described the timing as unacceptable. It argued that the development could affect the turnout of Muslim voters across the country.

“This is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise the majority Muslim population in the country,” the party stated.

The party also accused the INEC Chairman of displaying what it termed religious bias in the choice of the election date.

It therefore urged the President to take immediate action by removing the electoral body’s chairman. The party said such a step would promote fairness and rebuild trust in the electoral system.

“For any election to be accepted by the Muslim majority in the country, the President must replace him with a more credible Christian who will ensure justice and fairness for all,” the statement added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

A human rights lawyer, Barrister Abba Hikima, has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to reconsider the administrative decision to fix Nigeria’s national election during the Ramadan fasting period.

Hikima made the appeal in a Facebook post, where he warned that maintaining the proposed schedule could reinforce claims of religious bias if not urgently reviewed.

He wrote: “Unless Professor Amupitan intends to lend credence to the lingering agitation that he harbours certain bias against Muslims, he must immediately review the administrative decision of fixing Nigeria’s national election in Ramadan.”

The lawyer explained that Ramadan is a period of compulsory fasting for Muslims. He said the exercise comes with significant physical demands. According to him, the realities of election voting in Nigeria — including long queues, heat exposure, transportation difficulties, and extended physical exertion — place fasting Muslims under serious strain.

Hikima stated: “While Ramadan is a period of compulsory fasting for Muslims, characterized by intense physiological demands and requiring adherents to abstain from food and drink from dawn to dusk, voting, especially in Nigeria, entails long queues, prolonged exposure to heat, transportation challenges, and extended physical exertion- conditions wholly incompatible with the demands of fasting Muslims. Both activities are constitutionally protected by Nigeria’s constitution and INEC is duty bound to uphold them.”

He further argued that election scheduling remains an administrative action that can be reviewed in the public interest. He urged the Commission to consider adjusting the date to protect both religious freedom and civic rights.

In his words: “The fixing of an election date is an administrative decision subject to review in the broader public interest. In order to preserve the religious freedom and civic participation rights of more than half of the voting population, prudence dictates that the Commission reassess the proposed date and consider scheduling it either before the commencement of Ramadan or after the completion of the fasting period. Nothing in the Constitution bars the Commission from making such an adjustment in the interest of fairness, inclusivity, and national cohesion.”

Hikima warned that failure to make such an adjustment could discourage voter turnout among fasting Muslims.

He added: “Failure to do this would disproportionately burden fasting citizens which amounts to about 55 percent of the population and ultimately defeat INEC’s statutory duty to encourage voter participation.”

As of the time of filing this report, neither the Commission nor Professor Amupitan had issued an official response to the concerns raised.

Public reactions have continued to trail the decision to fix Nigeria’s 2027 general elections within the holy month of Ramadan, with commentators and political figures raising concerns about possible implications for voter participation.

A Facebook user, Ibrahim A. Khaleel, was among the early voices to criticize the development. In a widely shared post, he questioned the rationale behind scheduling the elections during the fasting period, arguing that leaders who genuinely prioritize nation-building would have avoided such timing.

> “If our politicians were sincere and truly had nation-building at heart, the INEC Chairman, Professor Amupitan, would have been greatly surprised. Why then fix the 2027 election in the month of Ramadan?”



He stressed that fasting should not prevent civic engagement, citing Islamic history.

> “Fasting is not a death sentence. Muslims even fought the Battle of Badr in the month of Ramadan in the 2nd year after Hijrah (2 AH). So what is a democratic election where people only have to stand in line?”



Khaleel, however, suggested that economic hardship and public distrust in leadership could discourage turnout, alleging that inducements have often influenced voter mobilization.

“Even pasta and seasoning cubes would have to be very convincing to bring the masses out to vote. If one bag of pasta brought Mr. ‘Raw Material’ to the voting line in 2023, then it will have to be doubled now. At least two bags, with two packs of seasoning cubes added. Maybe that will motivate Mr. ‘Raw Material,’ the friend of Nigerian Democrats!”



He also drew parallels with Muslims in conflict zones, arguing that faith and perseverance endure despite hardship.

“Have Muslims in Gaza not been facing killings since October 7, 2023? They have observed Ramadan twice in the midst of this unjust war, yet they did not lose hope and they did not give up. So why should we fail to come out and vote?”



Adding to the discussion, former presidential aide Bashir Ahmad issued a formal public appeal to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), urging the electoral body to reconsider the dates.

In his statement, Ahmad acknowledged the announcement of February 20 and March 6, 2027, for the Presidential/National Assembly and Governorship/State Assembly elections respectively, but noted the religious significance of the period.

“This is a respectful observation following the announcement of February 20th and March 6th, 2027, as the date for the next Presidential and National Assembly and Governorship and State Assembly elections respectively. The proposed dates fall within the holy month of Ramadan, a period during which many Muslims devote significant time to fasting, prayer, and spiritual reflection.”



He warned that the timing could pose participation challenges for Muslim voters.

“If the intention is to encourage full and inclusive participation in the electoral process, scheduling such a critical national exercise during Ramadan may present challenges for a large segment of the population. Many Muslims tend to reduce engagement in demanding worldly activities during this period in order to focus on religious obligations.”



Ahmad further urged electoral authorities to weigh inclusiveness in their considerations.

“Given the significant Muslim population in this country, it may be worthwhile to reconsider the timing to ensure broader participation and convenience for all citizens. I do hope this observation will be taken in the spirit of inclusiveness and national cohesion.”



The debate continues to generate mixed reactions across social media and political circles, with some Nigerians supporting a review of the dates for inclusivity, while others insist that religious observance should not hinder democratic participation.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission has scheduled February 20, 2027, for the conduct of the next Presidential and National Assembly elections across Nigeria.

Chairman of the commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the date during a news conference held in Abuja on Friday. He also disclosed that governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on March 6, 2027.

The release of the timetable comes at a time when discussions continue over the delayed passage of the amended Electoral Act, which is still before the National Assembly.

Earlier, on February 4, the commission indicated that it had concluded work on the election timetable and the schedule of activities, despite the uncertainty surrounding the amendment to the law.

INEC stated that it had already forwarded the timetable to lawmakers. It, however, warned that certain components of the schedule could experience adjustments. The commission said any change would depend on when the amended Electoral Act is eventually passed.

Further details on the electoral programme are expected to be made public in due course.

The Independent National Electoral Commission has informed the National Assembly that it will require N873.78bn to conduct the 2027 general elections.

The commission also proposed N171bn as its budget for operations in the 2026 fiscal year.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the presentation of the commission’s 2026 budget proposal and projected expenditure for the 2027 polls before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters in Abuja.

He explained that the N873.78bn estimate covers the full conduct of the 2027 general elections. He added that the N171bn request for 2026 would fund routine responsibilities. These include by-elections and off-season governorship polls.

The proposed election budget shows a sharp rise compared to the N313.4bn released by the Federal Government for the 2023 general elections.

Providing a breakdown of the projection, Amupitan said, “N379.75bn is for operational costs, N92.32bn for administrative costs, N209.21bn for technological costs, N154.91bn for election capital costs and N42.61bn for miscellaneous expenses.”

He noted that the estimate was prepared “in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the commission to prepare its election budget at least one year before the general election.”

On the 2026 proposal, the INEC chairman said the Ministry of Finance issued a budget envelope of N140bn. He, however, stated that “INEC is proposing a total expenditure of N171bn.”

According to him, the 2026 estimate includes N109bn for personnel costs, N18.7bn for overheads, N42.63bn for election-related activities and N1.4bn for capital projects.

Amupitan also revealed that the election budget did not accommodate a fresh request by the National Youth Service Corps seeking an upward review of allowances for corps members engaged as ad hoc election staff.

During the session, Senator Adams Oshiomhole argued that external bodies should not impose a budgeting template on INEC due to the sensitive nature of its mandate. He called for the removal of the envelope budgeting framework and urged lawmakers to support the commission’s financial request.

Similarly, a member of the House of Representatives, Billy Osawaru, advocated placing INEC’s funding on first-line charge in line with constitutional provisions. He said this would guarantee early release of funds for election planning.

The joint committee later approved a motion recommending the one-time release of the commission’s annual budget. It also pledged to review the NYSC’s request estimated at about N32bn to raise corps members’ election allowance to N125,000.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on INEC, Simon Lalong, assured that the National Assembly would collaborate closely with the electoral body to ensure successful conduct of the 2027 polls.

Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Bayo Balogun, promised legislative backing but cautioned the commission against making commitments it might not fulfil.

“IReV was not even in the Electoral Act; it was only in INEC regulations. So, be careful how you make promises,” Balogun warned.