February 13, (THEWILL) — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially unveiled the timetable for the 2027 general elections, providing a definitive roadmap for the nation’s next political cycle.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced at a news conference in Abuja on Friday that the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, February 20, 2027.
The Governorship and State Assembly elections will follow on Saturday, March 6, 2027.
According to the schedule, political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between July 1 and September 30, 2026.
This will be followed by the submission of candidates’ lists to the commission from October 1 to October 31, 2026, while the final list of candidates will be published on November 15, 2026.
The commission also announced specific timelines for electioneering campaigns. Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on November 18, 2026, and end on February 19, 2027.
For the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections, campaigns will begin on December 15, 2026, and conclude on March 5, 2027.
Prof. Amupitan noted that the commission has finalised the election timetable and related activities despite the pending amended Electoral Act currently before the National Assembly.
He explained that the schedule remains subject to legal developments.
“While INEC has submitted its proposals, some items in the schedule could be affected depending on when the legislation is enacted,” Amupitan stated.
On Thursday, the commission informed the National Assembly that it requires a record ₦873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 general elections, warning that adequate funding is essential to avoid operational disruptions.
According to the chairman, the ₦873.78 billion budget covers the full conduct of national elections, while an additional ₦171 billion is required to support routine operations in 2026, including by-elections and off-season polls.
The total election budget, nearing ₦1 trillion, is structured across five key areas, including ₦379.75 billion for operational costs, ₦92.32 billion for administrative costs, ₦209.21 billion for technological costs, ₦154.91 billion for election capital costs and ₦42.61 billion for miscellaneous expenses.
The release of the timetable formally signals the start of the 2027 electoral process and is expected to guide political activities nationwide.
INEC stated that the clearly defined schedule is aimed at ensuring transparency, orderly conduct, and adequate preparation by all stakeholders as Nigeria heads toward another democratic exercise.
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