THE INDEPENDENT National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially released the timetable for the 2027 general elections, setting Saturday, February 20, 2027 as the date for the Presidential and National Assembly (NASS) polls, with governorship and state assembly elections to follow two weeks later on Saturday, 6 March 2027.
The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced the timetable and schedule of activities at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
Prof. Amupitan stated that the announcement is in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the commission to publish the notice of election not later than 360 days before the appointed date.
“This action we are taking today is pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, and in particular, Section 28, subsection 1 of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandates the Commission to publish the notice of election not later than 360 days before the date appointed for the election,” Prof. Amupitan said.
According to the commission, the tenure of the President, Vice-President, and Governors (excluding those in states with off-cycle elections) will lapse on May 28, 2027, while the National and State Assemblies will stand dissolved on June 8, 2027.
Citing relevant sections of the Constitution, the INEC chairman noted that elections must be held not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of these mandates.
Key Dates and Activities
The detailed timetable outlines a comprehensive schedule of pre-election activities, providing a clear roadmap for political parties and stakeholders.
Party Primaries and Candidate Nominations
Political parties are required to conduct their primaries, including the resolution of any disputes arising from them, between May 22 and June 20, 2026.
Following the primaries, the submission of nomination forms via the INEC online portal for national elections (Presidential and National Assembly) will open on July 14, and close on July 28, 2026.
For state elections (Governorship and State Houses of Assembly), the submission window is set for August 11 to August 25, 2026.
INEC will publish the personal particulars of candidates for national elections on August 4, 2026, and for state elections on September 1, 2026.
The final list of nominated candidates will be published on August 15, 2026 for national polls and October 6, 2026 for state polls.
Campaign Periods
Public campaigns will officially commence on September 23, 2026 for the Presidential and NASS elections, ending on February 18, 2027, 24 hours before polling day.
For the governorship and state assembly elections, campaigns will start on October 7, 2026 and conclude on March 4, 2027.
Voter Registration
The commission also announced that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will begin in April 2026 and conclude in January 2027, giving eligible Nigerians ample time to register or update their voter information. The official register of voters is scheduled to be published on January 11, 2027.
Adherence to the Law and Electoral Reforms
Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed the commission’s independence, stressing that the authority to fix election dates rests solely with INEC.
He directed all Resident Electoral Commissioners to publish the notices in their respective constituencies.
The announcement comes amid ongoing debate over the Electoral Amendment Bill currently before the National Assembly.
While INEC had earlier indicated that work on the timetable was concluded despite legislative delays, the chairman cautioned that adjustments might be necessary depending on when, or if, the amended law is enacted.
He expressed the commission’s readiness to adopt any changes that would strengthen the system but stressed that current operations remain guided by the existing legal framework.
“The commission has worked meticulously to set the election timetable and sequence of activities to ensure a smooth electoral process in 2027,” Prof Amupitan said.
He added: “We remain committed to conducting free, fair, and credible elections, even as we await the National Assembly’s approval of the amended Electoral Act”.
Amupitan advised political parties to strictly follow the timelines, warning that the commission would enforce compliance.
“I call on political parties to conduct peaceful and credible primaries, to shun violence and inflammatory rhetoric, and to uphold internal democracy,” he added.
