By Augustine Akhilomen
Nigerians on social media have questioned the decision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to fix January 16th, 2027, for the presidential election.
Recall that the electoral body had earlier fixed the presidential and national assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while the governorship and state house of assembly elections were scheduled for March 6 of the same year. However, the commission was forced to review the timetable following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
Reacting to the development, Nigerians have described INEC’s decision as an attempt to disenfranchise some voters who probably may still be on vacation or traveling away from their base cities during the festive period.
Some opined that the election has been moved so that vote buying would be easy considering the hardship and hunger that comes with the January window.
See reactions below…
Olumide Olorunfemi said politics has fully started in Nigeria: “Politics is officially in full swing, everything is moving fast, and this year is already loaded. At the end of the day, we demand a free and fair election. That’s all that really matters.”
Castro Naija said January is a hard time for Nigeria: “The election has been moved to a time when vote buying would be easy. During hardship and hunger. January is normally the toughest month due to the end of year celebrations, and with empty pockets resulting from the celebrations.”
El-barrio alleged corruption in Nigeria elections: “Nigerians Regious way no God, ordinary chairmen and cancelors election way they do inside fasting period. Still, corruption played on.”
Engr. Christian Chukwu demanded credible elections from the electoral body: “Just give Nigerians free, fair and credible elections where our votes will count, that’s all we ask and stop being useless.”
@Stevebankzs Ekiti governorship election is June 20, 2026. Osun governorship election is August 8, 2026. Presidential election January 16, 2027. Nigeria is about to have 3 major elections in 8 months. INEC’s capacity, funding, independence and neutrality will all be tested simultaneously.
@Sunday_Johnson_This is absolute madnesss o. How can u hold election on 16th January? There’s Jan 16th till February 14th a lot of other Saturdays. Some ppl would still be on vacation or travel away from their base cities and all. Una dey smoke?
@nejinsan76 Which nonsense time table ? Election that u will declare Tinubu the winner no matter what . Please
@inecnigeria you people should not waste people time and Nigeria money because on that day we know that u are going to still declare Tinubu the winner even if another person wins
@ImmanuelTo39986 You are weapon against free and fair election in Nigeria, move it to January 2028 will it bring transparency, the answer is no why should I border about reshuffling the time table. You people have sworn not to give Nigerians credible election. look at FCT election you accepted
@OlogoAdedeji INEC just quietly moved the presidential election to January so Tinubu can ‘win’ before the Ramadan fasting stress hits his base hard. Same old rigging playbook, different calendar. Nigerians aren’t fooled anymore.”