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By Tracy Moses
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a revised timetable for the 2027 General Elections following the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which replaced the 2022 law and introduced key adjustments to Nigeria’s electoral timelines.
Previously, the Commission had slated the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, with Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls set for Saturday, March 6, 2027.
However, the new legislation prompted INEC to review its schedule to ensure full legal compliance and avoid potential disputes.
Speaking on the revised calendar, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, said: “The Electoral Act, 2026, has revised critical pre-election timelines, including party primaries, candidate nominations, publication of candidate lists, and the official campaign periods. Our updated timetable aligns all activities with the law, reducing the risk of litigation that could undermine the process.”
Under the revised schedule, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are rescheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027. Party primaries, including dispute resolution, are set for April 23 to May 30, 2026. Campaign activities for Presidential and National Assembly candidates will begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates will start on September 9, 2026.
Malam Haruna stressed the importance of compliance: “Campaign activities must conclude 24 hours before Election Day.
INEC will strictly enforce these timelines in line with the Electoral Act, 2026. Political parties and candidates are expected to respect these deadlines to ensure credible and transparent elections.”
In a related update, the Osun State Governorship election, initially scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2026, has been postponed to Saturday, August 15, 2026. The Commission clarified that while some pre-election activities for Ekiti and Osun had already taken place, all remaining processes will now follow the updated legal timelines.
“The revised timetable is fully consistent with the Constitution and ensures that all electoral activities are legally valid,” Haruna concluded.