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2027 Polls: INEC Announces New Dates for Presidential and Governorship Elections
Independent National Electoral Commission Issues Revised Timetable for 2027 General Election, Reschedules Osun Governorship Poll
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approved and released a revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Election, following changes to Nigeria’s electoral legal framework.
The Commission had earlier scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, 20 February 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for Saturday, 6 March 2027, in line with the provisions of the now-repealed Electoral Act 2022.
However, following the repeal of the 2022 law and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which introduced adjustments to statutory timelines governing pre-election and electoral activities, INEC reviewed and realigned its schedule to ensure compliance with the new legal provisions.
New Election Dates
According to the revised timetable:
- Presidential and National Assembly Elections will now hold on Saturday, 16 January 2027.
- Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections will now hold on Saturday, 6 February 2027.
The Commission also confirmed the rescheduling of the Osun State Governorship Election in line with the updated framework.
Key Milestones in the Revised Timetable
INEC outlined critical activities leading up to the polls:
- Conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the primaries, will commence on 23 April 2026 and end on 30 May 2026.
- Campaigns for Presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on 19 August 2026.
- Campaigns for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will begin on 9 September 2026.
In accordance with the law, all political campaigns must end 24 hours before Election Day.
The Commission urged political parties to strictly adhere to the revised timelines, warning that it will enforce full compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The revised schedule marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s electoral calendar as preparations intensify for the 2027 polls under the new legal regime, with the hashtag #NigeriaDecides2027 already gaining traction in political discussions.
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