The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revised the timetable for the 2027 general elections following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026 and concerns raised over a clash between the earlier dates and the Ramadan fasting period.
Under the new schedule, Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.
The commission had initially fixed February 20 and March 6 respectively under the repealed Electoral Act 2022.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, explained in a statement issued in Abuja that the repeal of the 2022 Act and the signing into law of the Electoral Act 2026 necessitated a realignment of statutory timelines for pre-election and electoral activities.
He said party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them, will run from April 23 to May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, 2026, while Governorship and State Assembly campaigns will begin on September 9, 2026.
The commission also shifted the Osun State governorship election from August 8 to August 15, 2026, noting that outstanding activities in both Osun and Ekiti will be conducted strictly in compliance with the new law.
INEC maintained that the revised timetable aligns with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2026.
However, opposition parties, particularly the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), have strongly criticised the new electoral framework, accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to tilt the 2027 elections in its favour.
At a press conference in Abuja attended by prominent opposition figures including ADC National Chairman David Mark, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi, NNPP National Chairman Ajuji Ahmed called on the National Assembly to urgently amend what he described as “objectionable provisions” in the Act.
Ahmed argued that the law, signed by President Bola Tinubu on February 18, was rushed and contains clauses capable of undermining transparency.
He faulted the amendment to Section 60(3), which grants presiding officers discretionary powers in the event of technical challenges during electronic transmission of results.
According to him, the provision weakens the gains made through the introduction of electronic transmission and could be exploited to delay uploads to INEC’s Results Viewing Portal (IReV) under the guise of network failure.
The opposition also criticised changes to party nomination procedures. While the Electoral Act 2022 permitted direct primaries, indirect primaries and consensus arrangements, the 2026 law restricts parties to direct primaries and consensus only.
They further objected to the shortening of campaign timelines and the reduction of the period within which INEC funding is released from 12 months to six months before elections.
Describing the recent FCT Area Council elections as a “dress rehearsal” for 2027, the coalition alleged irregularities and cited low voter turnout—reportedly as low as 7.2 per cent in the Abuja Municipal Area Council—as evidence of growing public distrust in the electoral system.
President Bola Tinubu dismissed claims that he was undermining the opposition, saying critics were free to express their views.
Speaking during an interfaith Iftar with senators at the Presidential Villa, he remarked that he had been accused of “killing the opposition” despite not owning a gun.
He urged political actors to prioritise unity and strengthen constitutional democracy, noting that Nigeria faces serious security challenges, including terrorism and banditry, which require collective effort rather than partisan conflict.
Meanwhile, the ADC Southwest caucus declared its readiness for the forthcoming governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states.
In a statement issued after a zonal executive meeting in Ibadan, the party said it would intensify mobilisation, expand membership and strengthen its grassroots structures.
The caucus resolved to establish a robust campaign framework, closely monitor polling units and ensure adequate security coordination throughout the election period.
In a related development, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), called for deeper collaboration with the United Nations to improve electoral credibility and inclusiveness.
Receiving the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mohammed Fall, and the UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, in Abuja, Amupitan reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to continuous improvement in election management.
He highlighted ongoing technological reforms, including enhancements to the IReV portal and efforts to sanitise the voters’ register by removing deceased persons and duplicate entries.
He also urged the UN to intensify support in voter education to tackle apathy and rebuild trust.
Fall congratulated the INEC chairman on his appointment and pledged sustained UN support, noting that Nigeria’s elections carry significant regional and global implications.
