INEC Reschedules 2027 Presidential Election to January 16, Citing New Electoral Act and Ramadan Concerns

INEC Announces Revised 2027 Election Timetable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has officially announced a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, moving the presidential and National Assembly polls forward to Saturday, January 16, 2027. This significant change was communicated by Mohammed Haruna, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, in a statement issued on Thursday. The adjustment also sees the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections now scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2027.

Reasons for the Schedule Adjustment

The primary reason for the alteration of the electoral calendar is the recent enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which repealed the previous Electoral Act, 2022. The new legal framework introduced adjustments to the statutory timelines governing pre-election and electoral activities, necessitating a comprehensive review and realignment of the previously released schedule.

Furthermore, the initial dates, which had slated the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, and the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections for March 6, 2027, drew criticism from various stakeholders. These dates were found to coincide with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which was expected to begin around February 8 and end around March 10, 2027. Concerns were raised about the potential impact on voter participation and the overall conduct of the elections during this sacred period.

To facilitate this change, the Senate amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, reducing the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days, thereby empowering INEC to revise the dates.

Key Dates in the Revised Electoral Calendar

The revised timetable outlines several crucial activities leading up to the general elections:

• Conduct of Party Primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the process, will commence on April 23, 2026, and conclude by May 30, 2026.
• Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections are set to begin on August 19, 2026.
• Campaigns for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.

In addition to the general elections, the Osun State Governorship election, initially scheduled for August 8, 2026, has also been rescheduled to Saturday, August 15, 2026.

INEC's Call for Stakeholder Cooperation

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, who signed the revised timetable, emphasized that the successful conduct of the forthcoming elections remains a collective responsibility. The commission has urged all stakeholders, including political parties, civil society organizations, and the electorate, to cooperate in ensuring peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections that accurately reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.