INEC Announces New Date for 2027 Presidential Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rescheduled Nigeria’s 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027. Governorship and State Assembly elections will now hold on February 6, 2027.

The new dates were announced in a statement on Thursday by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.

According to the commission, the adjustment became necessary following the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026, which required a revision of the election calendar.

INEC had initially fixed the presidential poll for February 20, 2027, and the governorship elections for March 6, 2027. The earlier dates had drawn criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who urged the commission to reconsider, noting that the February date coincided with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Atiku warned that holding elections during Ramadan could hinder voter participation and national engagement, describing the timing as insensitive to Nigeria’s religious diversity. “Elections are not mere administrative rituals; they are national exercises that demand maximum participation, physical endurance, and collective focus,” he had said.

The commission had unveiled its initial timetable amid widespread speculation but was compelled to review it following the passage of the new Electoral Act, 2026, leading to the updated dates announced on Thursday.