Following changes effected in the newly signed Electoral Act 2026, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has rolled out an approved revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election.
The commission, in a press release it issued at its headquarters in Abuja, announced that presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections were rescheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The electoral umpire averred that the adjustments is a fallout of the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 as amended, and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which provided some alterations to some statutory election timelines and processes.
iNEC said that consequently, political party primaries, as well as resolution of disputes emanating from the exercises, will hold between April 23, 2026 and May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections, according to the new schedule will begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections campaigns will start on September 9, 2026.
The commission reiterated that political campaigns must end 24 hours before election day in line with legal provisions, warning that compliance with the revised timetable would be strictly enforced.
The commission stated that the revised schedule aligns with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2026, and therefore urged stakeholders to cooperate to ensure peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
