Nigeria’s next general election cycle will begin in February 2027, following the release of an official timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The schedule was announced in Abuja on Friday by the INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, who confirmed that the presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on 20 February 2027. Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are set for 6 March 2027.
According to the chairman, the timeline aligns with constitutional provisions governing the expiration of tenures and the conduct of elections. He stated that, by virtue of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the tenure of the President, Vice-President, and most state Governors and Deputy Governors will expire on 28 May 2027. Membership of the National and State Assemblies, he added, will stand dissolved in accordance with constitutional requirements.
Citing Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2), and 178(2) of the Constitution, Amupitan said elections to the relevant offices must be conducted not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the current terms.
He stated that the 2027 general elections will cover the offices of President and Vice-President, Governors and Deputy Governors in states where elections are due, members of the Senate, members of the House of Representatives, and members of the State Houses of Assembly.
Amupitan reaffirmed that the authority to fix election dates rests solely with INEC under the Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022. He said the Commission had formally set the dates and commenced the electoral process in line with its statutory powers.
The detailed timetable and schedule of activities have been uploaded to the Commission’s website and circulated to registered political parties and other stakeholders. INEC also directed all 36 Resident Electoral Commissioners, as well as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Federal Capital Territory, to publish official notices in constituencies where elections will be conducted.
The Commission stated that the timetable reflects its adherence to constitutional and legal provisions governing Nigeria’s electoral process.
