Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Abuja releases timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections
Nigeria’s major opposition parties have reacted to the release of the 2027 general election timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), expressing readiness to participate while calling for credible, free and transparent polls.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and African Democratic Congress (ADC) said they were prepared for the elections but stressed that the integrity of the process would ultimately determine the legitimacy of the outcomes.
According to INEC’s timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for February 20, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections will hold on March 6, 2027.
Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly contests will begin on November 18, 2026, and end on February 19, 2027. Governorship and state Assembly campaigns are set to commence on December 15, 2026, and conclude on March 5, 2027, 24 hours before voting day.
INEC also announced that political parties must conduct primaries between July 1 and September 30, 2026, while submission of candidates’ lists is expected between October 1 and October 31, 2026.
PDP declares readiness
The PDP National Caretaker Committee aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, said the party is fully prepared for the 2027 elections.
In a statement, the committee’s National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, urged party members and aspirants to remain focused, assuring them that all internal disagreements and pending court cases would be resolved before the primaries.
“The PDP is fully prepared to meet all constitutional and regulatory requirements within the stipulated timelines,” the statement said, adding that the party remains committed to offering what it described as credible leadership in 2027.
Meanwhile, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the PDP also expressed readiness for the polls, but stressed that participation would depend on INEC’s ability to guarantee free, fair and credible elections.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said, “Whenever INEC is ready for the elections, the PDP will be ready, provided it can guarantee free, fair and credible elections.”
NNPP questions election budget
The NNPP welcomed the election timetable but urged INEC to use the available time to properly prepare for an election that would be acceptable to Nigerians and the international community.
Speaking on the matter, the party’s spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, criticised the ₦873.778 billion budget allocated for the elections, describing it as excessive.
“What are they using that huge amount for? Are they building new mobile phone towers to transmit results? I don’t know what they budgeted over ₦800 billion for, but it sounds ridiculous,” he said.
ADC pushes for real-time result transmission
The ADC also welcomed INEC’s timetable but said public confidence in the 2027 elections would depend largely on transparent procedures, particularly the real-time electronic transmission of results.
In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the early release of the timetable allows political parties to plan effectively, but insisted that credibility would depend on INEC’s commitment to transparency and technological integrity.
He called on the electoral commission to clarify its preparedness for real-time result transmission if legal amendments are made, and urged the National Assembly to remove ambiguities in the Electoral Act.
“Nigerians have shown, time and again, that they are ready to defend the sanctity of their votes. What is now required is for the electoral umpire to match that civic vigilance with institutional clarity, operational transparency and administrative excellence,” Abdullahi said.
