INEC Moves 2027 Presidential Election to January 16

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a revision of the timetable for the 2027 general elections, with the presidential election now scheduled for January 16, 2027. This update was disclosed in a statement signed by Malam Moham Kudu Haruna, the Chairman of INEC, and follows the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022, leading to the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.

The previous date for the presidential election was set for February 20, 2027. Additionally, the governorship and state house assembly elections have been moved to March 6, 2027, from February 6, 2027.

INEC outlined key milestones in the electoral calendar, including party primaries starting on April 23, 2026, and ending on May 30, 2026. Campaigns for presidential candidates will commence on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship candidates will begin on September 9, 2026.

INEC also acknowledged concerns regarding the scheduling of elections during Ramadan, which may affect voter participation, but defended the legal basis for the original dates. The commission indicated that it requires N873.78 billion to conduct the elections, a significant increase from the N560.38 billion budget for the 2023 elections.