The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to issue a fresh timetable for the 2027 general elections following the passage of the Electoral Act 2026.
The commission said the move became necessary to align the election schedule with the new law, which amended key timelines guiding the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
Under the amended Act, the mandatory notice period for elections was reduced from 360 days to 300 days, creating room for adjustments to previously announced dates.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to the Chairman, Mr Adedayo Oketola, said the commission was reviewing the new law and would release a revised timetable in line with its provisions. He explained that INEC was committed to operating strictly within the law and would ensure full compliance with the amended electoral framework.
The announcement comes amid pressure from political parties who argued that the existing timetable was based on the now-repealed Electoral Act 2022. INEC had earlier scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections were fixed for March 6, 2027.
However, the dates attracted criticism from some groups, particularly Muslim organisations, who noted that the elections could clash with the Ramadan fasting period. The debate gained momentum after the National Assembly passed the Electoral Act 2026, which allows INEC more flexibility in fixing election dates, including the possibility of holding the polls earlier than February 2027.
Legal experts have also weighed in, insisting that INEC must issue a new timetable to avoid legal complications. Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, said the commission had a legal obligation to realign its election calendar with the amended Act, stressing that any timetable must be rooted in existing law.
Political parties have echoed similar concerns. A senior official of the All Progressives Congress said a revised timetable was inevitable, as all electoral activities must now be conducted under the 2026 Act. The African Democratic Congress and the New Nigeria Peoples Party also urged INEC to act quickly, warning that delays could disrupt party primaries, congresses and other internal preparations.
The Peoples Democratic Party, on its part, said the commission must ensure that the new timetable fully reflects the law to allow parties and voters prepare adequately for the elections.
Meanwhile, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria cautioned against adjusting election dates solely on religious grounds, arguing that such decisions could undermine Nigeria’s secular status. The group urged political leaders to respect constitutional provisions and allow elections to remain civic exercises rather than religious considerations.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, has not disclosed when the revised timetable will be released, but the commission has assured stakeholders that the process is ongoing and that a new schedule will be made public once the review is concluded.
