INEC Unveils 2027 Election Calendar, Sets February, March for Polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced the notice of election alongside the full timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, presented the timetable during a press briefing at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The schedule shows that national elections — covering the Presidential and National Assembly polls — will take place on February 20, 2027, while state elections for Governorship and State Houses of Assembly are fixed for March 6, 2027.

INEC also disclosed that political parties will begin submitting nomination forms for national offices through its online portal from July 14, 2026, with the process closing on July 28, 2026.

For state elections, the submission period is between Aug. 11 and Aug. 25, 2026, with access codes to be made available to parties at the INEC headquarters on July 13.

The commission also scheduled the publication of personal particulars of candidates for the presidential and national assembly elections for Aug. 4, while those for the governorship and state assembly polls will be published on Sept. 1.

The timetable fixed Aug. 25 as the last day for the withdrawal or replacement of candidates for national elections, and Sept. 24 for state-level candidates.

Similarly, INEC will publish the final list of nominated candidates for the national elections on Aug. 15 and for state polls on Oct. 6.

While the publication of the notice of poll is set for Jan. 21, 2027, the commission will publish the official register of voters on Jan. 11, 2027.

Public campaigns for the presidential and national assembly elections are scheduled to commence on Sept. 23, 2026 and end on Feb. 18, 2027.

Campaigns for the governorship and state houses of assembly elections will start on Oct. 7, 2026 and end on March 4, 2027.

Amupitan stated that the timetable was released pursuant to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

He explained that the Act mandates INEC to publish the notice of election not later than 360 days before the date appointed for the polls.

The chairman emphasised that the commission acted swiftly to ensure the integrity of the process and to mitigate logistical challenges that could arise from delays.