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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rescheduled the 2027 general elections, moving both the presidential and governorship polls to earlier dates in line with a new electoral law.
According to INEC, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now take place on Saturday, 16 January 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will be held on Saturday, 6 February 2027.
The announcement was made on Thursday in Abuja by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, in an official statement.
Under the commission’s earlier timetable, the presidential poll had been scheduled for 20 February 2027, with governorship and state assembly elections fixed for 6 March 2027.
INEC revealed the adjustment became necessary following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which altered statutory timelines for pre-election and electoral activities.
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“Accordingly, the commission has resolved as follows: Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027. Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027,” part of the statement said.
INEC also released a revised schedule of key activities such as party primaries, including the resolution of disputes to run from 23 April to 30 May 2026.
Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on 19 August 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly contests will begin on 9 September 2026.
Haruna warned that electioneering must end 24 hours before polling day, stressing that the commission would strictly enforce compliance with the law.
In a related development, INEC announced that the Osun State governorship election has been shifted from 8 August to 15 August 2026.
The commission stressed that outstanding activities for the Osun and Ekiti State governorship elections would be concluded in full accordance with the new legal framework.
INEC said the revised timetable is consistent with the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the Electoral Act, 2026, and urged political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to support peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.