By Chuks Collins, Awka
At last, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the much anticipated key dates, updates and timetable for the coming 2027 General Elections.
The schedule which is packed with crucial dates one need to know contained most necessary details and dates.
Surprisingly the anticipated major changes or shift were absent.
It was all along anticipated that the timetable would adjust the activities and process to see that the main events were tackled and completed way ahead the swearing-in date of May 29, 2027.
These include the date of the elections which was expected to be moved to around October -November 2026; to leave enough time for the election petitions to be concluded way ahead of the swearing-in, so as to eliminate waste of valuable time of governance in pursuit of petitions way into the period. It was somehow disappointing that this adjustment of
Election Dates:
Presidential and National Assembly Elections: Saturday, February 20, 2027
Governorship and State Assembly Elections: Saturday, March 6, 2027
Campaign Periods:
Presidential and National Assembly Elections:
November 18, 2026 – February 19, 2027
Governorship and State Assembly Elections: December 15, 2026 – March 5, 2027
Other Key Activities:
Continuous Voter Registration (CVR): April 2026 – January 2027
Submission of Candidate Lists: October 1-31, 2026
Publication of Final Candidate List: November 15, 2026
Party Primaries: July 1 – September 30, 2026.
There’s also a proposal to amend the Electoral Act to move the elections to November 2026, but this is still pending.
