INEC Releases 2027 Election Timetable: Key Dates for Presidential, Governorship Polls Announced

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially released the timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, detailing critical dates for voting, party primaries, political campaigns, and voter registration. The announcement comes at a time of increasing concern over the delayed passage of the amended Electoral Act, which is currently under consideration by the National Assembly.

The commission had previously indicated on February 4 that it had finalized the election timetable and schedule of activities, notwithstanding the legislative delay.

According to the released schedule, the Presidential and National Assembly elections are set to take place on Saturday, February 20, 2027. The Governorship and State House of Assembly elections will follow two weeks later, on Saturday, March 6, 2027. The commission also specified the official campaign periods for political parties and candidates. Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to run from November 18, 2026, to February 19, 2027.

For the Governorship and State Assembly elections, campaigning will commence on December 15, 2026, and conclude on March 5, 2027—exactly 24 hours before the election date, in line with electoral guidelines.

In preparation for the polls, INEC announced that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will begin in April 2026 and end in January 2027, providing eligible Nigerians with sufficient time to register or update their voter information.

Political parties are required to conduct their primaries between July 1 and September 30, 2026. Following the primaries, parties must submit their lists of candidates to INEC between October 1 and October 31, 2026.