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Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has criticised the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections, describing it as impractical and insensitive to Nigeria’s political realities.
In a statement issued by the Olawepo-Hashim Media Office on Sunday and made available to Punch News, he argued that the electoral calendar did not provide sufficient time for political parties to conduct transparent primaries and other internal democratic processes.
Olawepo-Hashim warned that the schedule could heighten political tension and destabilise political parties ahead of the elections if not reviewed.
He also criticised the commission for fixing politically sensitive activities, including party primaries, around major religious events such as the Muslim Hajj exercise and Ileya celebrations.
“Combining election primaries with periods like Hajj and Ileya, which already carry security and mobility challenges, is unreasonable,” he said.
He noted that the periods already come with significant security and logistical challenges, warning that combining them with political activities could increase tension and create avoidable disruptions.
According to him, party primaries are often accompanied by political rivalry and security concerns, making proper planning and adequate spacing necessary.
He argued that compressing political and religious activities within the same period could increase national risk and undermine stability within political parties.
The former presidential candidate disclosed that he had earlier written an open letter to the President Bola Tinubu, urging him to ensure INEC complied strictly with the provisions of the Electoral Act in implementing the timetable.
He, however, said there had been no response from the Presidency.
Olawepo-Hashim further argued that the Electoral Act already provides enough time for political parties to complete their nomination processes without resorting to what he described as a chaotic timetable.
Citing Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, he noted that political parties are required to submit the names of candidates not later than 120 days before elections, adding that this effectively gives parties until mid-September to conclude their primaries.
He questioned the rationale behind adopting what he described as a timetable that circumvents the provisions of the law.
Olawepo-Hashim warned that failure to review the schedule could deepen political tension and weaken public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
