By Professor Ishaq Akintola

‎‎Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has rejected the 2027 election timetable which was released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday, Friday, 13th February, 2026.

In a statement issued on Saturday, 14th February, 2026, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, noted that INEC presumed that there are no Muslims in Nigeria. He described the timetable as exclusive, insensitive and provocative.

He spoke further:

“INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan announced the timetable and schedule of 2027 elections at a press conference in Abuja yesterday, Friday, 13th February, 2027.

‎‎”According to the timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections would take place on 20th February 2027 while governorship and State Assembly polls are scheduled for 6th March, 2027.

‎‎”Meanwhile Ramadan is projected to start around 8th February, 2027 and end about 10th March, 2027. This implies that all the election dates fall within the holy month of Ramadan.

‎‎”This is not only audacious and outrageous, it is exclusive, insensitive and provocative. It is equally preposterous, atrocious and luciferous. MURIC strongly condemns this election timetable. It came without brakes from the pit of jahannam.

‎‎”We are shocked to our marrows that a body given the responsibility of drafting a timetable for a national exercise in a pluralistic country like Nigeria will go all out to produce a timetable that excludes the largest group in the population (Nigerian Muslims) from the exercise.

‎‎”This is the most anti-Muslim election timetable ever produced in the history of elections in this country. It seeks to disenfranchise, ostracize and alienate Muslims. Not only that, it also aims at causing the greatest inconvenience possible for Nigerian Muslims. Most importantly, Amupitan’s election timetable is keen on making it impossible for Muslims to worship Allah. This is religious persecution.

‎‎”It is either a manifestation of high-level contempt for Muslims in the country or the highest degree of ineptitude for INEC chairman not to have considered important religious events in Nigeria while fixing dates of the election.

“There is also evidence of failure to consult his predecessors. Administration is known to be a continuum and wise successors often leverage on advice from their predecessors. Had Amupitan sought the advice of his predecessors, they would have told him of the need to avoid slating elections on days when important national events take place.

‎‎”By the way, were there no Muslims among members of INEC’s election timetable committee? Even if that is so, are there no Muslims among INEC staff at headquarters? Were they not consulted? Or were their opinions jettisoned? This is not inclusivity.

‎‎”The implications of holding elections during fasting are dire and far-reaching. In the first place, such an exercise endangers peaceful conduct of elections because, as more than half of the population is on compulsory fasting, too many hungry stomachs during election will mean too many angry voters. Afterall a hungry man is known to be an angry man. We must consider the stress among Muslim voters unless it is part of Amupitan’s plot to disenfranchise the Nigerian Muslim electorate. Weak from hunger and dehydrated, millions of Muslims will prefer to stay at home.

‎‎”Secondly, unless INEC intends to shut out all its Muslim staff, the exercise in Ramadan will be a deliberate punishment for them. This is because election is a rigorous exercise. Muslim staff of the electoral body who are fasting will not be able to give their best.

‎‎”Thirdly, this does not rule out the pain and agony among election observers, INEC ad hoc staff, etc who are Muslims, and there must be Muslims among them unless Amupitan intends to hire all these from the moon.

‎‎”Fourthly, the role of security agencies in elections cannot be underestimated. Many of them will be Muslims and they will also be fasting. Interestingly enough, the role of security agents during election can be very tasking and they are expected to mobilise in the early hours of the morning (as early as 1 am or 2 am). Their uniforms cannot transform them into disciples of Superman overnight. Ceteris paribus, they are most likely to suffer acute fatigue before noon if they are fasting.

“It is our sincere hope that INEC will hearken to our tidings although we will be little surprised if our cries are ignored. It is unfortunate that Muslim opinions do not matter anymore in government circles otherwise Amupitan will not be in office today after all the important Islamic organizations in the country have called for his removal over his ignoble role in penning the legal brief that formed the backbone of the fictitious Christian genocide and the attendant hullabaloo.

‎‎”It is paradoxical that Aso Rock catches pneumonia when Boko Haram or ISIS coughs. Some state governors start running helter-skelter and there is nothing they will not do for terrorists when the latter spits terror. but appeals from law abiding and peace-loving Islamic organisations, go unheeded.

‎‎”It is hoped, however, that INEC will not learn the hard way. It is hoped that some Muslim youths are not dreaming of #OccupyINECOffices nationwide over this christianisation of 2027 election timetable. It is glaring that Amupitan’s election timetable presumes that there are no Muslims in Nigeria. Back to sender, sir.”

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).