The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially announced Saturday, February 20, 2027 as the date for Nigeria’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, March 6, 2027.
INEC Chairman, Joash Ojo Amupitan, disclosed this on Friday, 13th February,2026 in Abuja during a meeting with political party leaders, civil society organisations and the media, describing the announcement as “a significant milestone in our democratic journey.”
According to him, the publication of the Notice of Election complies with the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which requires the Commission to release election notices at least 360 days before the polls.
INEC stated that the 2027 general elections will cover the offices of: President and Vice President, Governors and Deputy Governors (except Anambra, Bayelsa, Edo, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Ondo and Osun states), Members of the Senate, Members of the House of Representatives and Members of State Houses of Assembly.
Prof. Amupitan warned against reliance on unofficial election schedules circulating online, stressing that only INEC has the constitutional authority to fix election dates.
“For some time now, this has been a subject of speculation,” he said, noting that misinformation was misleading the public.
The Commission said that Party primaries must hold within the statutory period, Nomination forms must be submitted within the approved window, Campaigns will end 24 hours before Election Day and vowed to strictly enforce compliance with electoral laws and timelines.
The electoral body also outlined priorities for the elections, including: Expanded use of technology for transparency, Continuous update of the national voter register, Collaboration with security agencies and Intensified voter education and stakeholder engagement.
The chairman urged political parties to conduct peaceful primaries and appealed to citizens to maintain peace throughout the electoral process.
He added that the formal release of the Notice of Election marks the official commencement of Nigeria’s 2027 electoral cycle and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering credible polls that reflect the will of the people.
