Nigeria Schedules Presidential and Parliamentary Elections for 2027

Nigeria will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on February 20, 2027, with governorship and state legislature polls set for March 6. The elections, covering national and state offices, come amid security challenges, economic concerns, and public skepticism about electoral transparency. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is seeking reelection, while opposition figures, including Peter Obi, plan to contest.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, is preparing for its next major electoral cycle, with presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for February 20, 2027, according to an announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The commission also confirmed that governorship and state legislature elections will take place on March 6, 2027. INEC chairman Joash Ojo Amupitan described the upcoming elections as a “significant milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey,” highlighting the importance of the polls for consolidating democratic governance in the country.
The elections will cover a wide range of political offices, including the presidency and vice presidency, governorships and deputy governorships in most states (with the exceptions of Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun), as well as legislative positions at both the federal and state levels, including members of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and state Houses of Assembly. Over the past decade, INEC has implemented various technological measures aimed at improving the transparency and integrity of election results, but public confidence in the process remains limited, and post-election litigation continues to be a recurring feature of Nigeria’s elections.
In a recent development, the Nigerian Senate approved an amendment authorizing the real-time electronic transmission of election results. This measure, which had previously been rejected, was passed following intense political and public pressure. The decision represents a step toward enhancing the speed and transparency of electoral reporting, a long-standing demand among civil society groups and electoral reform advocates.
The elections come amid heightened security concerns in the country. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu faces significant international scrutiny, particularly from the United States, over rising jihadist attacks, kidnappings, and deteriorating security conditions across Nigeria. Domestically, his administration’s economic reforms have been a source of debate and criticism. Many Nigerians have voiced concerns over rampant inflation, increasing costs of living, and the declining value of the naira against the dollar, though Tinubu’s supporters argue that these measures were necessary to stimulate long-term investment and strengthen the economy.
President Tinubu, who was first elected in February 2023 with about 36 percent of the vote, is seeking reelection. He will face challenges from prominent opposition figures, including Peter Obi, who has already declared his candidacy for the 2027 election. Voter turnout in the previous election was 26 percent, which was eight percentage points lower than in the preceding cycle. According to Nigeria’s electoral rules, a presidential candidate can secure victory in the first round only if they achieve at least 25 percent of the vote in more than two-thirds of the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, a requirement that ensures both widespread geographic support and national legitimacy for the winner.
These elections are being closely watched both domestically and internationally, as they will test Nigeria’s democratic institutions, the resilience of its electoral system, and the capacity of its government to address pressing security and economic challenges while maintaining public trust in the democratic process.