The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced new dates for the 2027 general elections. The new dates for the Presidential & National Assembly elections are January 16, 2027, and February 6, 2027, for the Governorship & State Houses of Assembly elections.
The Commission had earlier fixed the dates for the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, February 20, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for Saturday, March 6, 2027.
This development was rejected by several Muslim stakeholders, who argued that the dates clashed with the Ramadan period.
As a result, the Senate amended Clause 28 of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which reduced the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days, enabling the Commission to change the dates.
Other dates include the submission of political parties' register of members to the commission slated to start 1 April 2026 and end 21 April 2026, and the conduct of party primaries is to commence on 23 April 2026 and end on 30 May 2026, amongst other dates.
More details later.
