INEC Shifts 2027 Presidential Election to January 16, Announces New Dates for Governorship, NASS Polls
Nigeria’s electoral landscape has shifted once again as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially adjusted the timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has now fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections. The commission also announced February 6, 2027, as the date for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections nationwide.
The revised dates were disclosed in a statement issued Thursday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna. The statement, obtained by PulseNets, confirmed that the adjustment followed recent legislative changes affecting the country’s electoral framework.
INEC explained that the decision became necessary after the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the subsequent enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026. The commission noted that the new law required a restructuring of the previously published 2027 election timetable to ensure full compliance with constitutional and statutory provisions.
PulseNets learnt that the commission had earlier scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections were initially fixed for March 6, 2027. Those dates have now been replaced under the updated electoral calendar.
The initial February 20 date had generated significant public debate after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged INEC to reconsider the timing, citing its overlap with the Ramadan fasting period observed by millions of Nigerian Muslims.
Atiku had cautioned that holding elections during Ramadan could undermine voter turnout and civic participation across the country, describing the schedule as insensitive to Nigeria’s socio-religious dynamics.
“Elections are not mere administrative rituals; they are national exercises that demand maximum participation, physical endurance, and collective focus,” he said at the time, stressing that inclusive planning remains critical in a religiously diverse nation like Nigeria.
When INEC first unveiled its 2027 general election timetable, the commission had maintained that the dates were in line with constitutional timelines and relevant electoral statutes. However, developments surrounding the Electoral Act, 2026 prompted a reassessment of that position.
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Thursday’s announcement now resets the political calendar, setting the stage for intensified party activities, coalition talks, and nationwide preparations ahead of the 2027 presidential election and National Assembly polls.
As Nigeria moves closer to the next general election cycle, attention will remain focused on INEC’s implementation of the revised Electoral Act, 2026 and its commitment to credible, transparent, and inclusive polls.
