The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have welcomed this news and promised to keep a close eye on every milestone in the electoral calendar to make sure everything is open and honest.
The organizations stated in a joint statement yesterday that INEC’s announcement on February 13, 2026, officially marks Nigeria’s start into the electoral season for what they called one of the most important elections in the country’s democratic history.
The calendar says that the presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, February 20, 2027. The gubernatorial and state House of Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, March 6, 2027.
The CSOs said that in the past several weeks, they had expressed worries about how long it was taking to finish changes to the electoral law and what it meant for the timely distribution of the election schedule.
They remembered that Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 says that INEC must send out a notice of an election at least 360 days before the date set for the poll.
So, they praised the commission for following the law and releasing the timetable right away. They stressed that it is very important for political parties, election stakeholders, security agencies, and citizens to have enough time to prepare for fair elections.
The statement continued, “The announcement gives us the clarity and certainty we need to start serious preparations.”
But the groups said that the release of the timetable is just the first step in a long process of elections. They also said that the 2027 elections will only be credible if the Electoral Act, INEC’s rules and guidelines, clear rules on how to electronically send and collect results, openness in procurement and logistics, and good communication with security agencies to make sure the elections are safe.
The CSOs also encouraged political parties to keep democracy alive within their own parties during primaries, follow the rules for campaign finance, run campaigns based on issues, and avoid using language that could make political tensions worse.
As the Electoral Act is being changed, the groups asked the National Assembly to make sure that the final version doesn’t make the election schedule less certain. They asked the conference committee to keep the House of Representatives’ rules about sending results electronically, allowing voters to download their cards, and setting fixed dates for important election activities.
The statement continued, “As civil society organizations dedicated to strengthening democracy, we will keep a close eye on each milestone in the electoral calendar and give public reports on compliance, transparency, and readiness on a regular basis.”
The Centre for Media and Society, The Kukah Center, the International Press Centre, Elect Her, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, and Yiaga Africa also signed the declaration.
About the Author
