INEC moves 2027 presidential election to January 16, reschedules date for Osun guber polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a major overhaul of the 2027 general election timetable, moving the Presidential and National Assembly elections to January 16, 2027.

The electoral body said the adjustment follows the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which introduced new statutory timelines for conducting elections in the country.

In a statement issued Thursday night in Abuja, INEC explained that the new legal framework required a comprehensive review of its earlier schedule.

National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, stated that the Commission has “reviewed and realigned the Schedule to ensure full compliance with the new legal framework” established by the 2026 Act.

Under the revised timetable, Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027 — a shift from the earlier plan that placed the presidential poll in late February and state elections in March.

The rescheduling has also affected off-cycle elections. INEC confirmed that the Osun State Governorship Election, initially fixed for August 8, 2026, has been moved to Saturday, August 15, 2026.

On preparations for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the Commission said while some preliminary activities had already been completed, “the remaining activities will now be implemented strictly in accordance with the Electoral Act, 2026.”

INEC further outlined an accelerated timeline for political parties. Party primaries, including the resolution of disputes, are scheduled to commence on April 23, 2026, and must be concluded by May 30, 2026.

Campaign activities will begin on August 19, 2026, for Presidential and National Assembly candidates, while Governorship and State House of Assembly campaigns will start on September 9, 2026.

Haruna urged political actors to comply strictly with the revised timetable, warning that “political parties are strongly advised to adhere strictly to these timelines,” adding that “the Commission will enforce compliance with the law.”
He also reiterated that all campaigns must end exactly 24 hours before the respective election dates, in line with statutory provisions.

INEC maintained that the new schedule remains consistent with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Electoral Act 2026, while calling on stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections that reflect the will of the Nigerian people.