The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced new dates for the 2027 general elections, fixing Saturday, January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly polls, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will now take place on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The revised timetable was disclosed in a statement released on Thursday by Mohammed Haruna, national commissioner and chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee.
According to INEC, the initial schedule, which had pegged the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, and the governorship and state assembly polls for March 6, 2027, was adjusted following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Haruna explained that the new law introduced changes to statutory timelines guiding electoral and pre-election activities, making it necessary for the commission to review its earlier timetable to align fully with the updated legal framework.
“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 further disclosed that party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them, will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026, in line with the approved schedule.
Haruna added that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls will commence on September 9, 2026.
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“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 said.
He also noted that the updated timetable and schedule of activities have been published on INEC’s official website and other authorised platforms.
In a related development, Haruna announced that the Osun State governorship election earlier scheduled for August 8, 2026, has now been moved 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 adjustment marks the first time since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999 that a presidential election will be held in January. Previous presidential elections took place on February 27, 1999; April 19, 2003; April 21, 2007; April 16, 2011; March 28, 2015; and February 23 and 25 in 2019 and 2023, respectively.