The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, fixing Saturday, January 16, 2027, for the presidential and governorship polls.
Under the updated schedule released Thursday night in Abuja, elections into State Houses of Assembly will now be held on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
INEC said the adjustment followed the enactment of the Electoral Act, recently signed into law by Bola Ahmed Tinubu after its passage by the National Assembly.
In a statement signed by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Commission explained that the new legal regime made it necessary to overhaul the earlier election calendar.
According to Haruna, the Commission has “reviewed and realigned the Schedule to ensure full compliance with the new legal framework” introduced by the 2026 Act.
The revised timetable also affects off-cycle elections. INEC disclosed that the Osun State Governorship Election, earlier scheduled for August 8, 2026, will now take place on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
On preparations for the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls, the Commission noted that while some activities had already been completed, “the remaining activities will now be implemented strictly in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026.”
Political parties are equally impacted by the new schedule. INEC fixed April 23 to May 30, 2026, as the window for the conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the exercises.
Campaign activities have also been clearly defined. Presidential and National Assembly campaigns are to commence on August 19, 2026, while Governorship and State House of Assembly campaigns will begin on September 9, 2026.
Haruna urged strict compliance with the new timetable, warning that the Commission would not hesitate to enforce the law.
“Political parties are strongly advised to adhere strictly to these timelines,” he stated, adding that “the Commission will enforce compliance with the law.”
He further clarified that all campaigns must cease exactly 24 hours before election day, in line with statutory provisions.
INEC maintained that the revised dates are “consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2026.”
The Commission appealed to Nigerians and other stakeholders to support its efforts, calling for “peaceful, credible and inclusive elections that reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”
