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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced new dates for the 2027 general elections, moving the presidential and National Assembly polls to January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will now take place on February 6, 2027.
The revised election timetable was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday by Mohammed Haruna, the national commissioner and chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee.
Originally, the electoral body had scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, with governorship and state assembly elections fixed for March 6, 2027. However, the commission reviewed the dates following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which introduced changes to statutory timelines guiding electoral processes.
Explaining the adjustment, Haruna stated that the new legal framework required INEC to realign its earlier schedule to ensure strict compliance with the updated provisions of the law.
“Accordingly, the Commission has resolved as follows: Presidential and National Assembly Elections will now hold on Saturday, 16th January 2027, Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections will now hold on Saturday, 6th February 2027,” the statement read.
He added that the Electoral Act, 2026 brought about modifications to the timelines for pre-election and election activities, necessitating a comprehensive review of the commission’s operational calendar.
According to the updated timetable, political party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them, will commence on April 23, 2026, and conclude on May 30, 2026. This period will allow parties to conduct their internal selection processes and resolve conflicts before the start of campaigns.
Haruna further disclosed that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will officially begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state Houses of Assembly contests will start on September 9, 2026.
“As provided by law, campaigns shall end 24 hours before Election Day. Political parties are strongly advised to adhere strictly to these timelines. The Commission will enforce compliance with the law,” he warned.
He also noted that the complete revised timetable and detailed schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections have been made available on INEC’s official website and communication platforms to ensure transparency and public awareness.
In a related development, Haruna announced that the Osun State governorship election, previously fixed for August 8, 2026, has been rescheduled to August 15, 2026.
“The commission notes that some activities in respect of the Ekiti and Osun Governorship Elections have already been conducted. However, the remaining activities will now be implemented strictly in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026,” he said.
The shift in the national election dates marks a historic change in Nigeria’s electoral calendar. It will be the first time since the return to democratic rule in 1999 that a presidential election will be conducted in January.
Historically, Nigeria’s presidential elections have mostly been held later in the year. The 1999 election took place on February 27, while the 2003 and 2007 elections were held on April 19 and April 21, respectively. Subsequent polls were conducted on April 16 in 2011, March 28 in 2015, February 23 in 2019, and February 25 in 2023.
INEC’s decision to move the elections earlier in the year is expected to have significant implications for political parties, candidates, security agencies, and voters, as preparations will now be compressed into a shorter timeframe.
The commission reiterated its commitment to conducting credible, transparent, and peaceful elections, urging all stakeholders to cooperate fully and abide by the revised schedule to ensure a smooth and successful electoral process in 2027.
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