Renowned Nigerian political economist and public intellectual Professor Pat Utomi has sharply condemned the recent amendment to the Electoral Act 2022, describing it as a “gangster style assault on the popular will” and an act of “treason” by the National Assembly and the Presidency.
In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday, February 20, 2026, Utomi warned that the decision—rushed through the legislature and swiftly signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu—demonstrates a profound lack of character and shame among those responsible. He cautioned that the amendment could set dangerous precedents capable of triggering serious instability in major urban centres, specifically comparing the potential fallout to the ongoing crisis in Khartoum, Sudan.
“This gangster style assault on the popular will by the Senate and Executive must not be brushed off. It is treason,” Utomi wrote. “Beyond a show of lack of character and a sense of shame it sets up conditions that may bring Lagos and Abuja to what Khartoum, Sudan is. So stop them we must.”
Utomi’s remarks come amid growing controversy over the amendment, which shortened the mandatory notice period for general elections from 360 days to 300 days. The change was justified by the National Assembly and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as necessary to prevent the 2027 general elections from coinciding with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Critics, however, argue that the rapid passage of the bill—without broad public consultation or sufficient debate—undermines democratic norms, reduces preparation time for political parties, civil society observers, and voters, and may facilitate manipulation of the electoral timetable to favour incumbents.
The amendment was first proposed by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central) during plenary, with the Senate invoking its standing orders to rescind and recommit the bill for swift passage. The Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, chaired by Simon Lalong (APC, Plateau South), defended the adjustment, stating that the original 360-day notice period risked clashing with Ramadan in 2027 and could depress voter turnout, disrupt logistics, and compromise inclusivity. INEC had already announced February 20, 2027, as the date for presidential and National Assembly elections and March 6, 2027, for governorship and state assembly polls—dates derived from the long-term timetable set by former INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu.
The bill passed both chambers of the National Assembly and was signed into law by President Tinubu shortly thereafter, drawing immediate backlash from opposition parties, civil society organisations, and independent analysts. The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Yiaga Africa, the Situation Room coalition, and several legal scholars have criticised the amendment as an unnecessary and potentially dangerous interference in the electoral calendar.
Utomi’s intervention is particularly notable given his longstanding reputation as one of Nigeria’s most consistent voices on governance, democracy, and public ethics. A former presidential candidate, university lecturer, and founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership, Utomi has frequently criticised what he sees as elite capture, institutional erosion, and the weakening of democratic guardrails in Nigeria.
His comparison to Khartoum—where Sudan’s capital has been devastated by fighting between rival military factions since April 2023—signals his deep alarm that electoral manipulation could ignite urban unrest in Nigeria’s two largest cities, Lagos and Abuja, both of which have histories of politically motivated violence and ethnic-religious tension.
The amendment has already sparked legal challenges. Several civil society groups and opposition politicians have indicated plans to approach the courts, arguing that the reduction in notice period violates provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act itself relating to adequate preparation time for stakeholders. Critics also contend that the change was driven more by political expediency than genuine logistical concerns.
INEC has not yet publicly indicated whether it will adjust the 2027 election timetable following the amendment, though commission officials have previously stated that final dates remain subject to legal and operational review.
President Tinubu’s swift assent to the bill has fuelled accusations from opposition figures that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is seeking to tilt the electoral playing field ahead of 2027. The presidency has defended the amendment as a pragmatic step to ensure inclusive participation during a major religious observance.
Utomi’s post has been widely shared and quoted on social media, with many users echoing his call for resistance to what they describe as “electoral engineering.” Others have defended the change as a reasonable accommodation of religious sensitivities in a multi-faith nation.
As Nigeria approaches the mid-point of President Tinubu’s first term, the controversy over the Electoral Act amendment has intensified debates about the health of the country’s democracy, the independence of electoral institutions, and the balance of power between the executive, legislature, and judiciary.
With local government elections, off-cycle governorship polls, and the 2027 general elections on the horizon, the stakes surrounding electoral legislation remain exceptionally high.
