2027: Presidential, N’Assembly Polls Shift As INEC Unveils New Timetable
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, moving the presidential and National Assembly polls to Saturday, January 16, 2027.
The commission also fixed Saturday, February 6, 2027, for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
INEC said the adjustment became necessary following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the commission explained that the earlier dates of February 20 and March 6, 2027, had been reviewed to ensure full compliance with the new legal framework.
According to INEC, party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them, will be conducted between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly candidates are scheduled to begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns will commence on September 9, 2026. The commission reminded political parties that campaigns must end 24 hours before election day, in line with the law.
INEC stated that the revised timetable is consistent with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, adding that it has published the schedule on its official platforms.
In a related development, the commission announced a minor adjustment to the governorship election in Osun State, shifting it from August 8 to August 15, 2026.
The review comes days after the electoral body initially announced dates for the 2027 general elections, a move that attracted criticism from some Nigerians who observed that the earlier February dates coincided with the Ramadan fasting period.
With the new timetable now in place, political parties, aspirants and voters are expected to align their preparations with the updated schedule as the country moves steadily towards another election cycle under a revised electoral framework.
