INEC Denies Releasing Timetable For 2027 General Election
About The Author
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed reports claiming that it has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election, describing the information as false and misleading.
In a statement issued Friday night in Abuja, INEC clarified that it has not released any official timetable for the 2027 polls. The statement was signed by Mr. Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman.
The Commission explained that while it has not issued an election timetable, references being circulated stem from earlier projections contained in a document titled “Election Management in Nigeria, 2015–2025.” INEC noted that the document outlined long-term projections and a proposed permanent election cycle, but does not constitute an official timetable or schedule of activities.
INEC recalled that under the leadership of Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, the Commission proposed anchoring Nigeria’s general elections to a fixed cycle, with Presidential and National Assembly elections held on the third Saturday of February, followed by Governorship and State Assembly elections two weeks later. The document mapped out projected dates for several future elections, including the 2027 polls.
However, the Commission stressed that any official timetable for the 2027 general election would be released in due course and strictly in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2022.
INEC cited Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandates the Commission to publish a notice of election not later than 360 days before the date appointed for a general election, adding that any timetable issued outside this statutory framework could not have originated from the Commission.
The electoral body urged Nigerians and the media to disregard the fake reports and rely solely on INEC’s official and verified communication channels for accurate and authoritative information on the 2027 general election.
