The Independent National Electoral Commission has revised the timetable for the 2027 general elections, announcing January 16, 2027, as the new date for the Presidential and National Assembly polls.
The electoral body said the adjustment became necessary following the replacement of the Electoral Act 2022 with the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, which introduced fresh timelines for electoral activities nationwide.
In a statement released on Thursday in Abuja, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, explained that the commission carried out a comprehensive review of its earlier schedule to ensure compliance with the new legal provisions.
He noted that under the updated programme, governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will now be conducted on February 6, 2027, marking a departure from the previously announced dates.
The earlier timetable had slated the presidential election for late February, while state-level polls were expected to hold in March, before the latest adjustment by the commission.
INEC also announced a modification to the Osun State governorship election, shifting it from August 8 to August 15, 2026. The commission added that preparations already underway for the Ekiti and Osun elections would proceed in line with the requirements of the Electoral Act 2026.
According to the commission, political parties are to conduct their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, while campaigns for presidential and National Assembly contests will commence on August 19, 2026, with governorship and state assembly campaigns starting September 9, 2026.
Haruna urged political actors to strictly observe the approved timetable, stressing that electioneering activities must end 24 hours before voting begins. He added that the revised schedule aligns with the 1999 Constitution as amended and called for cooperation from stakeholders to ensure peaceful and credible elections in 2027.