Nigeria’s electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has released a revised timetable for the country’s 2027 general elections, bringing key poll dates forward following recent changes to the nation’s electoral law. The new schedule reflects the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which altered statutory timelines and provided the legal framework for INEC to adjust its earlier plans.
Under the revised timetable, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections have been rescheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027, marking a significant shift from the commission’s initial calendar.
The revised dates replace INEC’s earlier announcement, which had fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for Saturday, March 6, 2027. That original timetable quickly became controversial after some Muslim stakeholders raised objections, arguing that the proposed election dates overlapped with the Ramadan period, a time of fasting, prayer, and heightened religious observance for Muslims.
Critics warned that holding nationwide elections during Ramadan could affect voter turnout, participation, and the ability of election officials and voters in predominantly Muslim communities to fully engage in the process, potentially undermining the inclusiveness and credibility of the polls.
The objections from religious groups and other stakeholders prompted legislative intervention at the National Assembly, where lawmakers revisited the legal provisions governing election timelines. Central to the debate was Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which originally required INEC to give a mandatory notice of 360 days before the conduct of general elections.
In response to the concerns surrounding the 2027 schedule, the Senate amended the clause, reducing the notice period from 360 days to 300 days. This adjustment effectively created room for INEC to lawfully shift the election dates without breaching statutory requirements, paving the way for the revised timetable now in force.
INEC formally announced the new election schedule on Thursday, publishing the revised timetable and schedule of activities on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. The document was signed by the commission’s chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, underscoring its official status and legal validity. In the statement accompanying the release, the commission outlined not only the new polling dates but also a comprehensive roadmap of preparatory activities designed to guide political parties, candidates, and other stakeholders in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
According to the revised timetable, preparations for the elections will begin much earlier than the polling dates themselves, with several key activities scheduled to commence as early as April 1, 2026. These preparatory steps are expected to include party primaries, nomination processes, voter education initiatives, logistics planning, and other statutory activities required to ensure a smooth and credible electoral process.
By releasing the full schedule well in advance, INEC aims to provide clarity and certainty for all actors involved, while reducing the risk of last-minute adjustments that could disrupt planning or fuel political tension.
The complete updated timetable and schedule is outlined below: