By Nathaniel Irobi
The Independent National Electoral Commission has unveiled a revised schedule for the 2027 general elections, officially setting the commencement of campaigns for presidential and National Assembly seats for August 19, 2026.
The electoral body made the announcement on Wednesday, presenting a detailed timeline that spans from party primaries to the final day of voting. Under the new arrangement, political parties will hold their primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, to select candidates for various positions.
Following the primaries, INEC has slated the submission of nomination forms for presidential and National Assembly candidates for June 27 to July 11, 2026. Governorship and State Assembly aspirants, on the other hand, will have from July 18 to August 8, 2026, to submit their forms through the commission’s online portal.
Campaigning for the presidential and National Assembly elections will run for nearly five months, starting August 19, 2026, and drawing to a close on January 14, 2027. For governorship and State Assembly races, the campaign window opens later — on September 9, 2026 — and ends on February 4, 2027.
INEC also confirmed that the final list of nominated candidates will be published on September 12, 2026, for federal elections, and October 10, 2026, for state-level contests.
Polling day for the presidential and National Assembly elections is fixed for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Assembly elections will take place three weeks later, on February 6, 2027.
The commission noted that the revised timeline is in full compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, which stipulates that campaigns must begin 150 days before election day and end 24 hours before voting commences.
INEC has called on all political parties, candidates, and stakeholders to strictly observe the timelines and abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act. The commission emphasized that adherence to the schedule is critical to maintaining the integrity and smooth conduct of the electoral process.
With the timetable now public, political parties are expected to accelerate their internal preparations, as the race toward the 2027 polls officially enters a new phase.
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