Nigeria Moves 2027 Elections Forward Following New Electoral Law

Nigeria’s electoral body, INEC, has rescheduled the 2027 elections. Presidential and National Assembly polls will be on 16 January, while governorship and state assembly elections are set for 6 February. Party primaries run from 23 April to 30 May 2026, with campaigns starting 19 August for national and 9 September for state elections. INEC called for strict adherence to the timelines to ensure credible and peaceful elections.

Nigeria’s electoral body has announced a rescheduling of the 2027 general elections, moving the polls forward to January, following amendments to the country’s electoral law, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said late Thursday.
According to the revised timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections are now slated for Saturday, 16 January 2027, instead of the previously scheduled date of 20 February 2027. Similarly, governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, 6 February 2027, advancing from the original date of 6 March 2027.
INEC explained that the changes follow the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the subsequent enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which introduced adjustments to statutory timelines governing pre-election preparations and electoral processes. The commission confirmed that it has approved and issued a revised timetable along with a schedule of activities in line with the new law.
The commission further detailed that party primaries, including the resolution of any disputes arising from them, will be conducted from 23 April to 30 May 2026. Campaign activities for the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to commence on 19 August 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will start on 9 September 2026. In accordance with the Electoral Act 2026, all campaign activities must conclude at least 24 hours prior to the respective election days.
INEC issued a warning to all political parties to strictly comply with the revised timelines, emphasizing that adherence to the law will be enforced. The commission highlighted that the successful execution of the upcoming elections is a shared responsibility and called on all stakeholders to work together to ensure peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections that accurately reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.