Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 20, 2027, for Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections, with governorship and state Houses of Assembly polls scheduled for March 6, 2027.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, announced the timetable at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, formally kicking off preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan said the decision complies with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which requires the commission to publish a notice of election at least 360 days before polling day.
According to him, the elections will cover the offices of President and Vice President; Governors and Deputy Governors—except in Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun states—as well as members of the Senate, House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on the commission by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, the commission hereby sets in motion the electoral process for the 2027 general elections,” Amupitan said.
He disclosed that a detailed timetable and schedule of activities have been uploaded to INEC’s official website and circulated to political parties and other stakeholders, describing the early announcement as a demonstration of the commission’s commitment to transparency, credibility and strict adherence to the law.
Addressing concerns over delays in passing the amended Electoral Act, the INEC chairman said the commission would continue to operate within existing legal provisions while remaining ready to adopt reforms that strengthen the electoral process once enacted.
By constitutional timelines, Amupitan noted that the tenure of the President, Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors—excluding the off-cycle states—will expire on May 28, 2027, while the National and State Assemblies will be dissolved on June 8, 2027. Elections, he added, must be held not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of tenure.
He further explained that party primaries, submission of nomination forms and campaign periods would all follow statutory timelines, with campaigns ending 24 hours before election day.
Amupitan urged political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, the media and voters to play their roles in ensuring peaceful and credible polls, describing the 2027 elections as a “collective national responsibility.”
The announcement comes amid ongoing debates at the National Assembly over amendments to the Electoral Act, which INEC says could still affect aspects of the election schedule depending on when the bill is passed.
