RismadarVoice Reporters
February 27, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published a revised timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
Key elections have been moved earlier to avoid overlap with Ramadan. INEC, under Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, now schedules the Presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for February 6, 2027.
Preparatory activities begin April 1, 2026. Political parties are expected to submit their register of members between April 1 and April 21, 2026. Party primaries, including resolution of disputes, will take place from April 23 to May 30, 2026.
Nomination forms for Presidential and National Assembly candidates will be submitted from 9:00am on June 27 to 6:00pm on July 11, 2026, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates will submit theirs from 9:00am on July 18 to 6:00pm on August 8, 2026.
The Commission will publish candidates’ personal particulars on August 14, 2026, for Presidential candidates and August 20, 2026, for Governorship candidates. Campaigns begin on August 19, 2026, for Presidential candidates and September 9, 2026, for Governorship candidates.
The last day for candidate withdrawal or replacement is August 22, 2026, for Presidential candidates and September 19, 2026, for Governorship candidates. Political parties must submit final nomination forms by August 29, 2026, for Presidential elections and September 26, 2026, for Governorship elections.
INEC will publish the final list of nominated candidates on September 12, 2026, for Presidential elections and October 10, 2026, for Governorship elections. The last day for submission of polling agents’ names is December 10, 2026, for Presidential elections and January 6, 2027, for Governorship elections.
The official register of voters will be published on December 15, 2026, while the notice of poll will be published on December 29, 2026. The final day for campaigns is January 14, 2027, for Presidential elections and February 4, 2027, for Governorship elections.
Election day itself is January 16, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and February 6, 2027, for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
