The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed February 20, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Joash Amupitan, INEC chairman, announced the date on Friday during a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The chairman added that the governorship and state houses of assembly elections would be held on March 6, 2027.
Amupitan said the election dates were fixed in accordance with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which require elections to hold not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of current officeholders’ tenures in May and June 2027.
“By virtue of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), tenure of the president, vice-president, governors and deputy governors of states of the federation (except Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo, and Osun states) will expire on the 28th day of May, 2027, while membership of the national and state assemblies will stand dissolved on the 8th day of June, 2027,” he said.
“In exercise of the powers conferred on the commission by the Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022, and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf, the commission hereby sets in motion the electoral process for the 2027 general elections and fixes the date for the 2027 general elections as follows: presidential and National Assembly – 20th February 2027; governorship and state houses of assembly – 6th March 2027.”
Amupitan said the commission has already uploaded the detailed timetable and schedule of activities to its official website and circulated the information to registered political parties and other stakeholders nationwide.
“These dates reflect our commitment to ensuring that our electoral processes are transparent, credible, and adhere to the provisions of our laws,” he said.
Amupitan urged political parties to comply strictly with the timelines for party primaries, submission of nomination forms, and campaign activities, warning that the commission “will not hesitate to enforce compliance with the law”.
The INEC chairman added that the commission remains committed to expanding voter education, strengthening engagement with security agencies to ensure peaceful elections, and deepening the deployment of technology to enhance transparency in the electoral process.
“The success of the 2027 general elections is a collective responsibility. Government institutions, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations, and indeed all Nigerians must play their respective roles,” he said.
