INEC Sets February 20, 2027, for Nigeria Presidential Election: Full 2027 Timetable Released

The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed February 20, 2027, as the date for the presidential and National Assembly elections, with governorship and state assembly polls scheduled for March 6, 2027.

INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan made the announcement during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The commission acted under powers granted by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which require publishing a Notice of Election at least 360 days before the scheduled vote. Professor Amupitan explained that the timetable covers elections for President and Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors (excluding Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun states), Senators, House of Representatives members, and state assembly seats.

He confirmed that a comprehensive timetable and schedule of activities has been uploaded to INEC’s official website and shared with political parties and stakeholders. The chairman described the early release as a clear demonstration of INEC’s commitment to transparency, credibility, and strict adherence to legal requirements.

Addressing concerns about delays in passing the current Electoral Amendment Bill, Amupitan said the commission must proceed under existing law while remaining open to any changes that strengthen the process. “We are eager to adopt improvements that enhance our electoral framework,” he said, “but we must operate within the current provisions of the Electoral Act until amendments are enacted.”

He reminded political parties to follow statutory timelines for primaries, nomination submissions, and campaign periods, warning that INEC would enforce compliance without exception. The chairman called on all stakeholders – government bodies, security agencies, media, civil society, candidates, and voters – to work together to ensure peaceful, credible elections, describing the 2027 polls as a shared national responsibility.

Professor Amupitan assured Nigerians that INEC is fully prepared and focused on delivering results that truly reflect the people’s will.

Constitutional and Legal Context

Under Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2), and 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution, elections must take place between 150 and 30 days before the expiration of the current officeholders’ terms. The President, Vice President, Governors, and Deputy Governors (except in the listed states) complete their tenure on May 28, 2027, while National and State Assembly members’ terms end on June 8, 2027.

The announcement comes amid ongoing debate over the Electoral Amendment Bill currently before the National Assembly. INEC had previously indicated it completed its own timetable despite delays in the amendment process and cautioned that some schedule items could be affected depending on when the final law is passed.

The commission has also noted that the proposed budget for 2027 elections (N873.78 billion) and 2026 operations (N171 billion) was submitted earlier, with the election figure significantly higher than the N313.4 billion used in 2023. INEC Chairman Amupitan has stressed the need for timely, full funding to avoid logistical problems.