Presidential, Guber Elections Now Jan 16; Feb 6, 2027

…INEC Shakes Up Poll Calendar in Line With New Electoral Act

By Yinka Giwa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a sweeping revision of the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Elections, shifting the dates for the presidential, National Assembly, governorship and state assembly polls.

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the Commission said the adjustment followed the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which introduced changes to statutory timelines governing pre-election and electoral processes.

INEC had earlier scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for Saturday, March 6, 2027. However, after reviewing the new legal framework, the Commission resolved to realign the timetable to ensure full compliance with the Electoral Act, 2026.

Under the revised schedule, 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 moved to Saturday, February 6, 2027.

The Commission also released detailed timelines for pre-election activities. Conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the primaries, will commence on April 23, 2026 and end on May 30, 2026.

Campaigns for Presidential and National Assembly elections are to begin on August 19, 2026, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly campaigns will commence on September 9, 2026. In line with the law, all campaigns must end 24 hours before election day. INEC advised political parties to strictly adhere to the timelines, warning that it would enforce compliance with the law.

According to the statement, the revised timetable and full schedule of activities have been published on the Commission’s official website and other official communication platforms for public access.

In a related development, the Osun State Governorship Election, previously fixed for Saturday, August 8, 2026, has been rescheduled to Saturday, August 15, 2026. The Commission noted that while some activities concerning the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections have already been conducted, all outstanding processes will now proceed strictly in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026.

INEC stated that the revised dates are consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Electoral Act, 2026.

Reaffirming its commitment to credible polls, the Commission stressed that the successful conduct of the forthcoming elections remains a collective responsibility, calling on political parties, stakeholders and citizens to cooperate in ensuring peaceful, inclusive and transparent elections that reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.