The Independent National Electoral Commission has officially released the timetable and schedule of activities for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, fixing Saturday, February 20, 2027, for the Presidential and National Assembly polls, and Saturday, March 6, 2027, for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.
The announcement was made on Thursday by the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, who said the Commission was acting in strict compliance with constitutional and statutory provisions guiding the conduct of elections in the country.
“By virtue of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the tenure of the President, the Vice-President, the Governors, and Deputy Governors of states of the Federation, except Anambra State, Bayelsa State, Edo State, Ekiti State, Imo State and others with off-cycle elections, will expire on the 28th day of May, 2027,” Amupitan said.
He added that “membership of the National and State Assemblies will stand dissolved on the 8th day of June, 2027.”
Citing relevant constitutional provisions, the INEC Chairman explained: “Pursuant to Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2), and 178(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, elections to the said offices shall hold not earlier than 150 days, and not later than 30 days, before the expiration of the term of office of the holders.”
He further stated that the Commission’s action aligns with the Electoral Act. “This action we are taking today is pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, and in particular, Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which mandates the Commission to publish the notice of election not later than 360 days before the date appointed for the election,” he said.
Reaffirming the Commission’s independence, Amupitan declared: “Let me reiterate that the authority and power to publish the date of election is that of the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
Formally setting the dates, he announced: “In exercise of the powers conferred on the Commission by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, and the Electoral Act of 2022, the Commission hereby fixes the date of the 2027 general election as follows: Presidential and National Assembly election will come on the 20th February, 2027; Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will be on the 6th March, 2027.”
According to him, the 2027 general elections will be conducted nationwide for the offices of President and Vice-President, Governors and Deputy Governors in eligible states, members of the Senate and House of Representatives, as well as members of the State Houses of Assembly.
The Commission also released detailed timelines for party primaries, submission of candidates, campaigns, and voter registration.
Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between July 1 and September 30, 2026. Submission of nomination forms to INEC will take place from October 1 to October 31, 2026, while the final list of candidates will be published on November 15, 2026.
Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will run from November 18, 2026, to February 19, 2027. Governorship and State Assembly campaigns will begin on December 15, 2026, and end on March 5, 2027, exactly 24 hours before the respective election days.
As part of preparations for the polls, INEC announced that Continuous Voter Registration will commence in April 2026 and conclude in January 2027, giving eligible Nigerians time to register or update their voter information.
Amupitan said the detailed timetable had been uploaded to the Commission’s website and circulated to political parties and stakeholders.
“These dates reflect our commitment to ensuring that our electoral processes are transparent, credible, and adhere to the provisions of our laws,” he said.
He also directed Resident Electoral Commissioners across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to publish notices of election in their respective constituencies.
Addressing the pending Electoral Amendment Bill before the National Assembly, the INEC Chairman noted: “We recognise the necessity of enhancing our electoral framework to ensure that it meets the ever-evolving needs of our society and reflects our aspiration for free, fair, and credible election.”
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