The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially adjusted Nigeria’s 2027 general election timetable following the signing of the Electoral Act 2026 by President Bola Tinubu. The new law replaces the previous Electoral Act 2022.
Announcing the changes, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, explained that the Commission had earlier fixed Saturday, February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and Saturday, March 6, 2027, for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
“Following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026… the Commission has reviewed and realigned the schedule to ensure full compliance with the new legal framework,” Haruna said.
Under the revised timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.
INEC also released key milestones leading up to the polls. Party primaries will take place from April 23 to May 30, 2026. Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly candidates will begin on August 19, while governorship and State Assembly campaigns will commence on September 9.
Haruna stressed the need for cooperation among stakeholders to ensure credible elections. “The successful conduct of the forthcoming elections remains a collective responsibility. The Commission calls on all stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections that reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” he said.
With the revised calendar in place, political parties and voters now have a clearer roadmap for the 2027 electoral cycle.
