The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revised the timetable for the 2027 General Election.

INEC, therefore, moved the presidential and National Assembly polls to January and the governorship and state assembly elections to February.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the commission approved a Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities following changes in the electoral law.

INEC had earlier fixed Saturday, February 20, 2027 for the Presidential and National Assembly elections and Saturday, March 6, 2027 for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections under the Electoral Act, 2022.

However, the commission said the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026 necessitated a review of the schedule.

“Following the repeal of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, which introduced adjustments to statutory timelines governing pre-election and electoral activities, the Commission has reviewed and realigned the Schedule to ensure full compliance with the new legal framework,” the statement read.

According to INEC, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2027.

The commission also outlined key milestones in the revised timetable.

It stated that the conduct of party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from them, will commence on April 23, 2026 and end on May 30, 2026.

“Presidential and National Assembly campaigns will commence on 19th August 2026, Governorship and State Houses of Assembly campaigns will commence on 9th September 2026,” INEC stated.

The commission reminded political parties that campaigns must end 24 hours before election day and warned that it would strictly enforce compliance.

“As provided by law, campaigns shall end 24 hours before Election Day. Political parties are strongly advised to adhere strictly to these timelines. The Commission will enforce compliance with the law,” the statement stated.

INEC said the revised timetable has been published on its official website and other communication platforms.

The commission also announced a slight adjustment to the Osun State governorship poll.

“In addition, the Osun State Governorship Election, earlier fixed for Saturday, 8th August 2026, has been rescheduled to Saturday, 15th August 2026,” the statement added.

INEC noted that while some activities for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections had already been conducted, the remaining processes would align strictly with the Electoral Act, 2026.

It emphasised that the revised dates are consistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and the Electoral Act, 2026.

“The successful conduct of the forthcoming elections remains a collective responsibility,” the commission stated.

It called on stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring peaceful, credible and inclusive elections that reflect the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.

President Bola Tinubu has dismissed claims that he is killing the opposition and turning the country into a one-party state. 

The president spoke on Wednesday, during an interfaith breakfast with senators, at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Addressing the legislators, Tinubu said criticism is inevitable in public office, noting that his critics had accused him of “killing opposition”.

“What they call you, any name, any nickname, critics must talk. When they accused me of killing opposition, I didn’t have a gun. I could have given myself a licence seeing as I have the authority,” he said.

Tinubu added that the country’s current challenges, including terrorism and banditry, require unity rather than division, urging Nigerians to align with the vision of the nation’s founding fathers.

“But I can’t blame anybody for jumping out of a sinking ship. What we have faced in the challenging period of this country, the terrorism and banditry, is causing us havoc,” he added.

“And we should pull together, unite in a way that our forefathers contemplated to bring about a constitutional democracy and pull us together. They didn’t say we should fight. It’s a good thing that we are working in harmony.”

The president also defended his administration’s economic reforms, saying they were achieved through collective effort and were aimed at tackling corruption.

“I have a lot of credit for bold reforms. Without your collaboration and inspiration, those reforms would not be possible. We are reformists together,” he said.

“What we gave up and what we stopped is monumental corruption in the subsidy system. We don’t want to participate in monumental corruption and arbitrage foreign exchange.”

He added that the reforms have placed the country on a path of stability and economic recovery.

“You don’t have to chase me for dollars; you can see what Nigeria is today. You should be proud of this great moment, and I am glad you are,” the president said.

“What we are enjoying is a stable economy, and prosperity is beckoning us. We need to work hard, and this attendance means a lot to me.”

In his Democracy Day address of 2025, at the joint sitting of the national assembly, the president said he was happy to watch the opposition self-immolate.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) had been grappling with internal crisis, leading to a wave of defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The parties had accused the APC of stoking internal divisions among them, alleging that the ruling party was plotting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state.

Tinubu had said instead of putting their houses in order, the parties were blaming the APC.

The president also dismissed the one-party state narrative, pledging support for political plurality.

Speaking at the APC national executive committee (NEC) meeting held in late July, the president took a swipe at the opposition, urging governors elected on other platforms to join the APC.

“It is not a bad idea to abandon a sinking ship and be absent from a coalition of confusion,” Tinubu said.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has appointed Dr. Dagogo Wokoma as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Fubara also named a lawyer, Sunny Ewule, as the Chief of Staff (COS), stating that the appointments were with immediate effect.

A statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Onwuka Nzeshi, said the appointees would be sworn in today.

“The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Exco Chamber, Government House, Port Harcourt,” the statement said.