INEC Officially Releases 2027 General Election Timetable
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally announced the schedule for the highly anticipated 2027 General Elections in Nigeria. The electoral body's Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, unveiled the comprehensive timetable during a press briefing held in Abuja on Friday.
Key Election Dates Confirmed
According to the detailed announcement, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will take place on February 20, 2027. This will be followed by the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections, scheduled for March 6, 2027. Professor Amupitan emphasized that the commission is fully prepared and committed to conducting a transparent and credible electoral process.
Constitutional Framework and Tenure Expirations
The INEC Chairman provided clarification on the constitutional basis for these dates. "By virtue of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the tenure of the President, the Vice-President, the Governors, and Deputy Governors of states of the Federation, except Anambra State, Bayelsa State, Edo State, Ekiti State, Imo State, Osun, Kogi, and Ondo States, will expire on the 28th day of May, 2027," he stated.
He further explained that "Membership of the National and State Assemblies will stand dissolved on the 8th day of June, 2027." The election dates were determined in accordance with constitutional provisions, specifically Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2), and 178(2), which mandate that elections must be held not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the current office holders' terms.
INEC Reaffirms Its Independence and Authority
Professor Amupitan strongly reiterated the commission's autonomy in setting election dates. "Let me reiterate that the authority and power to publish the date of election is that of the Independent National Electoral Commission," he declared. The 2027 general election will be conducted nationwide for several key offices, including:
- President and Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Governors and Deputy Governors of the states of the Federation (excluding the aforementioned states with off-cycle elections)
- Members of the Senate
- Members of the House of Representatives
- Members of the Houses of Assembly of states
Official Declaration and Next Steps
In exercising the powers conferred by the Constitution and the Electoral Act of 2022, the Commission has officially set the electoral process in motion. "The Commission hereby sets in motion the electoral process for the 2027 general election, and fixes the date of the 2027 general election as follows: Presidential and National Assembly election will come on the 20th February, 2027; Governorship and State Houses of Assembly will be on the 6th March, 2027," Professor Amupitan confirmed.
The detailed timetable and schedule of activities have already been uploaded to the Commission's website and circulated to all registered political parties and relevant stakeholders. Furthermore, all 36 Resident Electoral Commissioners and the FCT REC have been directed to publish the official notices in each constituency where elections are to be held.
"These dates reflect our commitment to ensuring that our electoral processes are transparent, credible, and adhere to the provisions of our laws," the INEC Chairman concluded, underscoring the body's dedication to upholding democratic standards.
