*Presidential/NASS Hold Jan. 16, 2027
*Guber/State Assembly, Feb. 6, 2027
*Osun Guber, Aug. 15, 2026
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, following the repeal and signing into law of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
The electoral body had previously scheduled the presidential and national assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, and the governorship and state houses of assembly elections for Saturday, March 6, 2027.
But the original schedule was rejected by some Muslim stakeholders, who argued that the dates coincided with the Ramadan period, prompting the Senate to amend Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days to enable INEC change the dates.
INEC has has now moved the presidential and national assembly elections to January 16, 2027.
In a statement released Thursday night, February 26, in Abuja, the Commission said the new legal framework necessitated a complete review of the previously announced dates.
Its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, stated that the electoral body has now “reviewed and realigned the Schedule to ensure full compliance with the new legal framework” introduced by the 2026 Act.
Under the revised timetable, the governorship and state assembly elections have also been rescheduled to hold on Saturday, February 6, next year.
The shift in the general elections has also affected off-cycle polls, with the Osun State governorship election, earlier scheduled for August 8, this year, shifted to Saturday, August 15, 2026.
INEC said while some preparations for the Ekiti and Osun elections had already been concluded, “the remaining activities will now be implemented strictly in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026.”
Under the new timetable, published by INEC via its X handle on Thursday, February 26, and signed by its Chairman, Joash Amupitan, conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of any arising disputes, is scheduled to begin on April 23, this year, and must be concluded by May 30, this year.
Presidential and national assembly campaigns is scheduled to start on August 19, this year, followed by governorship and state assembly campaigns on September 9, this year.
Haruna stressed the necessity of discipline among political actors during this transition, warning that “political parties are strongly advised to adhere strictly to these timelines” and affirming that “the Commission will enforce compliance with the law.”
He clarified that all campaigns must end exactly 24 hours before their respective election days, as mandated by the new statutes.
INEC stressed that changes were consistent with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2026.
It charged the public, especially all stakeholders, to “cooperate in ensuring peaceful, credible and inclusive elections that reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”
