2027 Elections: INEC Set To Unveil Fresh Timetable

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has indicated that it will soon publish a revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, amid growing calls for adjustments to the previously announced dates.

According to Ireporter Online, the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, Adedayo Oketola, confirmed that the electoral body is preparing to make the updated timetable public. Although he did not specify when the revised schedule would be unveiled, he assured that all actions taken by the commission would strictly comply with the provisions of the law.

The clarification comes in response to appeals from political parties and key stakeholders who have urged the commission to reconsider its earlier timetable. INEC had recently announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on February 20, 2027, while the Governorship and State Assembly elections were scheduled for March 6, 2027. The announcement was made by the commission’s chairman at a press briefing in Abuja.

However, concerns were raised over the proximity of the proposed dates to the holy month of Ramadan, with critics warning that the overlap could negatively affect voter participation and inclusiveness.

In the midst of the debate, the National Assembly passed the Electoral Act 2026, reducing the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days. The amended Clause 28 mandates INEC to publish an election notice not later than 300 days before the date fixed for polls in each state and the Federal Capital Territory, specifying the election date and designated locations for submission of nomination papers.

The amendment has since been signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, a move widely seen as granting INEC greater flexibility in fixing dates for the 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections, potentially allowing the polls to be conducted between late December 2026 and January 2027.