The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revised the timetable for the 2027 General Elections following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026. Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027. INEC said the adjustments were made to align with new statutory timelines introduced by the amended law and to address concerns raised by stakeholders over overlaps in the earlier schedule.
According to INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, party primaries will run from April 23 to May 30, 2026. Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns will commence on September 9, 2026, ending 24 hours before election day. The commission urged political parties to comply strictly with the timelines, warning that it would enforce the law.
INEC also announced that the Osun State governorship election, earlier fixed for August 8, 2026, has been shifted to August 15, 2026. While some activities for the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls have already taken place, the commission said all outstanding processes would now be conducted in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and the 1999 Constitution as amended. It called on stakeholders to support peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.
Meanwhile, the United Nations commended Nigeria’s democratic journey, describing the country as a beacon on the continent. During a visit to INEC headquarters in Abuja, UN Resident Coordinator Mohammed Malik Fall congratulated the INEC chairman and praised Nigeria for sustaining democracy over the past 27 years despite the complexities of managing elections in Africa’s most populous nation.
In contrast, opposition leaders from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), alongside prominent political figures, demanded an overhaul of the Electoral Act 2026. They described the law as anti-democratic and accused the APC-led National Assembly and President Bola Tinubu of rushing its passage to undermine the integrity of the 2027 polls, warning that its implementation could threaten electoral transparency and national stability.
