The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled the official timetable for the 2027 general elections in Nigeria, giving voters, political parties, and candidates a clear roadmap for the upcoming polls.
The schedule outlines key dates for elections, party primaries, campaigns, and voter registration activities.
INEC set the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, March 6, 2027.
The commission will run Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) from April 2026 to January 2027, allowing eligible Nigerians to register or update their voter information before the elections.
Political parties will hold primaries between July and September 2026 to select candidates. They must submit final candidate lists to INEC by October 2026, and INEC will publish the lists in November 2026.
Campaigns for presidential and national assembly elections start in mid-November, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly races begin in mid-December. All campaigns must end at midnight before the respective election days.
INEC stressed that the timetable will guide its planning and ensure compliance with the Electoral Act 2022.
The commission warned the public to ignore any unofficial schedules circulating online and urged Nigerians to rely only on announcements from INEC’s official website and verified social media accounts.
Civil society groups welcomed the release of the timetable, calling on INEC to maintain transparency, publish timely updates, and create initiatives that encourage higher voter participation in the 2027 elections.
