The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed it will adjust its schedule for the 2027 general elections following the passage of the Electoral Act 2026.
The move comes after the National Assembly reduced the notice period for elections from 360 to 300 days, changing the legal framework guiding preparations.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, said the commission is reviewing the new law and will release a revised timetable in line with it.
Political parties had demanded clarity, saying they need enough time to conduct primaries and organise internal processes ahead of the polls.
The earlier dates fixed presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, and governorship and state assembly polls for March 6, 2027.
Those dates drew criticism from some Muslim groups who argued they could clash with Ramadan, while legal experts insisted the timetable must reflect the amended law to avoid court challenges.
Senior lawyers and party officials warned that sticking to a schedule based on the repealed 2022 Act could trigger lawsuits and disrupt preparations.
Meanwhile, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria opposed any change based on religious grounds, urging authorities to protect the country’s secular status as debates continue over the final election calendar.
