Nigeria to hold presidential poll on 20 February 2027, INEC announces

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the official timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, setting out key dates for voting, party primaries, campaigns and voter registration.

According to the schedule, presidential and national assembly elections will be held on Saturday 20 February 2027. Governorship and state house of assembly elections will follow two weeks later, on Saturday 6 March 2027.

The commission said campaigns for presidential and national assembly elections will run from 18 November 2026 to 19 February 2027.

Campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will begin on 15 December 2026 and end on 5 March 2027 – exactly 24 hours before polling day, in line with electoral regulations.

As part of preparations for the polls, INEC announced that continuous voter registration (CVR) will commence in April 2026 and conclude in January 2027, giving eligible Nigerians time to register or update their voter details.

Political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between 1 July and 30 September 2026. Parties must submit their lists of candidates to the commission between 1 and 31 October 2026.

INEC said the final list of candidates will be published on 15 November 2026.