Former presidential candidate Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim has warned that the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable for the 2027 general elections could trigger political instability and deepen internal crises within political parties.
Hashim said the election calendar released by INEC was “unlawful, unworkable and insensitive” to Nigeria’s political and religious realities.
Speaking in Abuja, the businessman and politician criticised the decision to schedule key political activities around the period of Hajj and Ileya celebrations, arguing that such timing could create security and logistical problems across the country.
“Combining election primaries with periods like Hajj and Ileya, which already carry security and mobility challenges, is unreasonable,” Hashim said.
According to him, party primaries are already tense exercises that require “careful planning, enough time and proper coordination” to avoid violence and confusion.
He warned that the compressed schedule could worsen internal party disputes and place additional pressure on security agencies.
“Why adopt a chaotic timetable circumventing the provisions of the Act?” he asked.
Hashim argued that the Electoral Act already provides enough time for political parties to conduct congresses, primaries and candidate nominations without rushing the process.
The warning comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 elections continue to gather momentum across the country, with several parties already witnessing early alignments, endorsements and internal disagreements over primaries and candidate selection.
