The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has put out a new calendar and program of activities for the 2027 general elections. This includes moving the dates of the presidential and governorship polls to follow the rules set out in the Electoral Act 2026.
The Commission said in a statement released yesterday and signed by Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, that the change was made because the Electoral Act, 2022 was repealed and new statutory deadlines were set.
Before, the Commission had set Saturday, February 20, 2027, as the date for the Presidential and National Assembly Elections and Saturday, March 6, 2027, as the date for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections.
“After the Electoral Act, 2022 was repealed and the Electoral Act, 2026 was passed, the Commission has reviewed and realigned the Schedule to make sure it fully follows the new laws,” Haruna said.
The Gov Polls are now on February 6.
The new schedule says that the presidential and National Assembly elections will now take place on Saturday, January 16, 2027. The elections for governor and state Houses of Assembly will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
Primaries for Parties
The Commission also talked about important steps that need to be taken before the polls.
From April 23 to May 30, 2026, there will be party primaries, and any problems that come up during them will be settled.
On August 19, 2026, campaigns for presidential and National Assembly candidates will start. On September 9, 2026, campaigning for gubernatorial and state assembly candidates will start.
“As the law says, campaigns must finish 24 hours before Election Day. It is very important for political parties to stick to these deadlines. Haruna said, “The Commission will make sure that the law is followed.”
INEC further said that the new schedule was in line with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2026, and that it had been made public on its official websites.
Poll in Osun
The Commission also said that the Osun State governorship election would be moved from August 8 to August 15, 2026.
It said that even if some things had already been done for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, all of the other steps will strictly follow the new Electoral Act.
Haruna stressed that everyone will have to work together for the elections to be successful.
“It is still everyone’s job to make sure that the upcoming elections go well.” He said, “The Commission asks everyone involved to work together to make sure that the elections are peaceful, fair, and open to everyone and that they reflect the will of the Nigerian people.”
The adjustment happened 13 days after the election official first said when the general elections will be held on February 13, 2026.
But many Nigerians, including politicians, criticized the choice because the dates fell with Ramadan, a time when Muslims fast.
The revised dates also came eight days after President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act, 2022 (Repeal and Re-Enactment) measure 2026 into law. The National Assembly had been debating the measure for months before passing it.
One of the first big changes to the way elections are run since the new system was put in place is the change in dates.
Now that the new calendar is in place, political parties, candidates, and voters should all change their plans as Nigeria enters another election cycle under a new legislation.
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