The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a major adjustment to Nigeria’s 2027 general election timetable, moving the Presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027.
The decision follows the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which introduced new statutory timelines for the conduct of elections. In a statement issued Thursday night in Abuja, INEC said the new legal framework required a comprehensive review and realignment of previously scheduled dates to ensure full compliance with the law.
National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, explained that the Commission had adjusted the calendar accordingly. Under the revised schedule, Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will now hold on February 6, 2027, instead of the earlier dates set for late February and March.
The changes also affect off-cycle elections. The Osun State Governorship poll has been shifted from August 8 to August 15, 2026. INEC noted that party primaries will run from April 23 to May 30, 2026, while campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, followed by governorship and state assembly campaigns on September 9, 2026. The Commission urged political parties to strictly adhere to the new timelines, emphasizing that campaigns must end 24 hours before election day in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026.
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