THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, shifting dates for the presidential and governorship polls in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.
News Point Nigeria reports that the electoral body announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections have been rescheduled to Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The adjustment follows the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the introduction of new statutory timelines under the 2026 Act, which necessitated a realignment of pre-election and electoral activities.
INEC had earlier fixed February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and March 6, 2027, for the Governorship and State Assembly elections before the legislative changes.
Under the revised schedule, political party primaries including the resolution of disputes arising from them will commence on April 23, 2026, and conclude on May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while Governorship and State Assembly campaigns will start on September 9, 2026.
As stipulated by law, all campaigns must end 24 hours before Election Day.
INEC urged political parties to strictly comply with the new timelines, warning that it would enforce the provisions of the law without hesitation.
The Commission stated that the revised timetable has been uploaded to its official website and other communication platforms for public access.
In a related development, INEC announced that the Osun State Governorship Election, previously scheduled for Saturday, August 8, 2026, has been moved to Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The Commission noted that certain preparatory activities for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections had already been conducted. However, it stressed that all remaining activities would strictly align with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
INEC emphasized that the revised dates are consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and the Electoral Act, 2026.
In the statement signed by Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the Commission reiterated that the successful conduct of the 2027 elections remains a shared responsibility.
It called on political parties, candidates, civil society organizations, security agencies, the media, and the electorate to cooperate in ensuring peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections that reflect the sovereign will of Nigerians.
