The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced January 16, 2027, as the new date for Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections, following a revision of the country’s electoral timetable.
Politics Nigeria The commission also fixed February 6, 2027, for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections across the federation.
INEC disclosed the new dates in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.
According to the electoral body, the adjustment became necessary after the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which required a restructuring of the election calendar.
The commission had earlier scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls were fixed for March 6, 2027, before the latest review.
The earlier February 20 date had sparked controversy after former Vice President Atiku Abubakar urged INEC to reconsider the timetable, noting that it coincided with the Ramadan fasting period observed by millions of Nigerian Muslims.
Atiku had warned that conducting elections during Ramadan could negatively affect voter participation and national engagement, describing the timing as insensitive to Nigeria’s socio-religious realities.
“Elections are not mere administrative rituals; they are national exercises that demand maximum participation, physical endurance, and collective focus,” he said at the time, adding that inclusive planning was essential in a religiously diverse country like Nigeria.
INEC had initially unveiled the 2027 general election timetable amid widespread public speculation over polling dates, stating that the schedule complied with constitutional and statutory requirements.
However, the passage of the new Electoral Act, 2026 compelled the commission to reassess its earlier timeline, leading to the fresh dates announced on Thursday.
