The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially moved forward the dates for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections following the passage of the new Electoral Act, 2026.

The presidential and National Assembly elections are now set for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

Previously, under the repealed Electoral Act, 2022, the elections were scheduled for February 20 and March 6, 2027, respectively.

The adjustment was largely motivated by concerns that the earlier dates would coincide with Ramadan, expected from February 8 to March 10, which could affect voter turnout.

Prominent figures, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, had highlighted this potential conflict.

The rescheduling follows the repeal of the 2022 Electoral Act and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 18, 2026.

The updated legal framework introduced new timelines for pre-election and electoral activities, prompting INEC to issue a revised timetable.

Both INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan and spokesperson Mohammed Haruna confirmed the commission’s compliance with the new law.

The Electoral Act, 2026, also addressed electronic transmission of results.

While initially rejected by the Senate, protests and pressure from citizens and opposition parties led to a compromise: electronic transmission remains optional, with manual transmission allowed if internet access fails.

In addition to the rescheduled elections, INEC has set key timelines: political party primaries and dispute resolution are to occur between April 23 and May 30, 2026.

Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections begin August 19, 2026, and for governorship and state assembly elections, September 9, 2026.

All campaigns must conclude 24 hours before election day.

The Osun State governorship election has also been moved from August 8 to August 15, 2026, with other Ekiti and Osun election activities aligned with the new law.