INEC Revises Election Timetable

|   Fixes Presidential/National Assembly polls for Jan 16, 2027
|   Governorship/State Assembly elections, Feb 6

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a revised timetable for the 2027 General Elections following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which introduced major adjustments to statutory timelines governing electoral activities.

In a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the commission confirmed that the presidential and National Assembly elections will now be held on Saturday, 16 January 2027, instead of the earlier scheduled date of 20 February 2027.

The governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections have also been moved from 6 March 2027 to Saturday, 6 February 2027.

According to INEC, the decision to realign the timetable was taken to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the new Electoral Act 2026, which modifies timelines for party primaries, campaigns and other pre-election activities.

Under the revised schedule, party primaries, including the resolution of disputes, will run from 23 April to 30 May 2026. Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on 19 August 2026, while campaigns for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will begin on 9 September 2026.

By law, all campaigns must end 24 hours before election day, and the commission warned that it will enforce strict adherence to the dates.

The revised timetable has been published on the commission’s website and other official communication channels for public access.

INEC also announced that the Osun State governorship election, initially scheduled for 8 August 2026, had been shifted to 15 August 2026.

The commission noted that although some preparatory activities for the Osun and Ekiti State governorship elections had to bb already been carried out, the remaining activities will now be implemented in line with the Electoral Act 2026.

INEC stressed that the revised dates are consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and reaffirmed its commitment to delivering credible, peaceful and inclusive elections.

The commission also called on political parties, candidates, security agencies, civil society groups and all Nigerians to cooperate in ensuring that the forthcoming elections reflect the will of the people.

The decision by INEC to adjust the timetable for the 2027 General Elections stemmed from a combination of legal, procedural and social factors.

At the centre of the change was the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026 by the National Assembly, which introduced new statutory timelines that rendered the earlier schedule incompatible with the law.

To avoid operating outside the provisions of the Constitution, the commission was compelled to realign key electoral dates, including the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and State Assembly elections.

Beyond the legal adjustments, the commission also faced growing concerns from several Muslim organisations, which argued that the original timetable placed major electoral activities, including campaigns and election days, within the month of Ramadan.

These groups maintained that holding national elections during a period of fasting and intense religious devotion would limit participation, strain voters and pose logistical challenges for those observing the fast.

Their appeals intensified public debate and added further pressure on INEC to reconsider the schedule.

The commission noted that while its primary obligation was to comply with the Electoral Act 2026, it also had to remain sensitive to religious and social dynamics to ensure inclusivity and broad participation.