The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially fixed Saturday, January 16, 2027, for Nigeria’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
The announcement follows the release of a revised timetable and schedule of activities in line with the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, which replaced the 2022 law and adjusted statutory timelines for electoral processes.
In a statement issued in Abuja, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the updated schedule ensures compliance with the provisions of the new legal framework guiding Nigeria’s 2027 general elections.
According to INEC, party primaries and dispute resolution processes will take place from April 23 to May 30, 2026. This period allows political parties to conduct internal candidate selection exercises and resolve pre-election disputes ahead of campaign activities.
Campaigns for Presidential and National Assembly seats will officially commence on August 19, 2026, while Governorship and State Assembly campaigns are scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026. In line with electoral regulations, all political campaigns must end 24 hours before election day.
The Commission also adjusted the governorship election date in Osun State from August 8 to August 15, 2026, while activities concerning Ekiti and Osun states will proceed in accordance with the revised legal framework.
INEC urged political parties, civil society organisations, and eligible voters to adhere strictly to the new timetable and collaborate to ensure peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections. The electoral body emphasised that the revised schedule is designed to enhance transparency, improve logistics planning, and strengthen electoral integrity.
The 2027 general elections are expected to be the first major nationwide polls fully conducted under the Electoral Act 2026, marking a significant phase in Nigeria’s democratic consolidation.
With clear dates now set for the presidential election on January 16, 2027, and governorship elections on February 6, 2027, political stakeholders are expected to intensify preparations as the countdown to one of Nigeria’s most anticipated electoral cycles begins.
