Breaking: INEC Sets February and March 2027 for General Elections

Nigeria’s electoral body has unveiled the full timetable for the 2027 general elections, setting February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly polls, and March 6, 2027, for governorship and state assembly elections.

In the schedule released on Friday, the Independent National Electoral Commission outlined key milestones leading up to the nationwide vote, including voter registration, party primaries, submission of candidates’ names, and official campaign periods.

The announcement signals the formal kickoff of preparations for what is expected to be another tightly contested electoral cycle.

Voter Registration and Party Primaries Timeline

According to the commission, Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) will begin in April 2026 and run through January 2027. The window is designed to allow new voters who have attained voting age, as well as those seeking to transfer or update their details, sufficient time to regularise their status.

Political parties are scheduled to conduct their primary elections between July 1 and September 30, 2026. During this period, parties will select candidates for presidential, gubernatorial, National Assembly, and state assembly positions.

Following the primaries, parties must submit their lists of nominated candidates to INEC between October 1 and October 31, 2026. The commission is expected to publish the final list of cleared candidates on November 15, 2026.

Electoral analysts say the timeline gives parties roughly four months to conclude internal processes and resolve disputes before campaign activities formally intensify.

Campaign Periods and Election Dates

The commission stated that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on November 18, 2026, and conclude on February 19, 2027, 24 hours before election day.

Campaigns for governorship and state assembly contests will begin on December 15, 2026, and end on March 5, 2027, also a day before voting.

By law, all political parties and candidates are required to halt campaign activities at least 24 hours before the polls open.

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The staggered election dates: presidential and federal legislative polls first, followed by state-level contests two weeks later, mirror the structure adopted in previous election cycles.

INEC officials said the early release of the timetable is intended to promote transparency, ensure adequate planning by stakeholders, and provide clarity for voters, political parties, civil society groups, and security agencies.

The announcement is expected to trigger heightened political activity nationwide, as aspirants begin consultations and parties gear up for internal contests.

With voter registration opening in April 2026, attention is likely to shift to youth participation and efforts to expand the voter roll. Civil society organisations have consistently urged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the CVR window to avoid last-minute congestion.

As preparations gather pace, the focus will remain on logistics, security coordination, and public confidence in the electoral process. The coming months are expected to test the readiness of institutions and political actors alike as Nigeria moves steadily toward the 2027 general elections.