The Independent National Electoral Commission has formally commenced activities for the 2027 general elections as of Wednesday, 23rd April 2026.
The development signals the official start of Nigeria’s next electoral cycle and sets the stage for what is expected to be a major political season nationwide.
With the commencement, INEC has activated a 38-day window for all registered political parties to conduct primaries and select candidates for various elective positions.
The timeline covers the presidential, governorship, National Assembly, and State Houses of Assembly elections in accordance with the Electoral Act.
Political parties are now required to conclude their primaries within the stipulated 38-day period and resolve any internal disputes arising from the process.
As part of compliance measures, parties must submit updated membership registers to the Commission at least 21 days before holding their primaries.
The final deadline for submission of those membership registers has been set for Saturday, 10th May 2026.
It would be recalled that INEC had earlier released a revised schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections after adjustments to key timelines.
Under the revised timetable, the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled to hold on Saturday, 16th January 2027.
Elections into State Houses of Assembly and governorship positions are slated for Saturday, 6th February 2027.
The Commission explained that the adjustments were made to align the electoral calendar with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
The Electoral Act 2026 was recently signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following its passage by the National Assembly.
The new legal framework necessitated a comprehensive review of previously announced dates to ensure full compliance with statutory requirements.
In a statement, National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, confirmed the changes.
INEC urged political parties, aspirants, and stakeholders to strictly adhere to the revised timetable to ensure a smooth and credible electoral process.
