The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled the official timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, detailing key dates for party primaries, voter registration, campaigns, and polling.
The announcement comes amid concerns over the delayed passage of the amended Electoral Act currently before the National Assembly. Despite the legislative setback, INEC confirmed on February 4 that it had finalised the election timetable and schedule of activities.
According to the schedule, Presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, February 20, 2027. Governorship and State House of Assembly elections will follow two weeks later, on Saturday, March 6, 2027.
The commission also outlined the approved campaign windows for political parties and candidates. Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will run from November 18, 2026, to February 19, 2027. Campaigns for Governorship and State House of Assembly elections will begin on December 15, 2026, and end on March 5, 2027—24 hours before polling day.
As part of preparations, INEC announced that Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will commence in April 2026 and conclude in January 2027, providing eligible Nigerians sufficient time to register or update their details.
Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between July 1 and September 30, 2026. Submission of candidates’ lists to the commission will take place from October 1 to October 31, 2026, while the final list of candidates will be published on November 15, 2026.
