INEC Unveils 2027 Election Timetable, Fixes Presidential Poll for February 20
CVR to begin April 2026 as parties get July–September window for primaries
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the official timetable and schedule of activities for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, setting out key dates for voting, party primaries, campaigns, and voter registration.
Under the schedule, Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, February 20, 2027, while Governorship and State House of Assembly elections are slated for Saturday, March 6, 2027.
The announcement comes amid concerns over the delayed passage of the amended Electoral Act currently before the National Assembly. INEC had earlier indicated on February 4 that it had concluded work on the election timetable despite the pending legislation.
According to the commission, political parties will conduct their primaries between July 1 and September 30, 2026. Submission of candidates’ lists is scheduled for October 1 to October 31, 2026, while the final list of candidates will be published on November 15, 2026.
Campaigns for Presidential and National Assembly elections will run from November 18, 2026, to February 19, 2027. Campaigns for Governorship and State Assembly elections will begin on December 15, 2026, and end on March 5, 2027—24 hours before the respective election days.
As part of preparations, INEC announced that Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will commence in April 2026 and close in January 2027, allowing eligible Nigerians sufficient time to register or update their details.
