Electoral Act 2026 Forces INEC To Review 2027 Election Schedule
INEC to Align 2027 Elections with New Law
THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed it will release a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC’s Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to its Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, Mr. Adedayo Oketola, disclosed this in an interview, stating that the commission would review the new legislation to ensure full compliance before issuing an updated schedule.
“The commission will review the new Electoral Act 2026. After this, a revised timetable should be released,” Oketola said, though he did not specify a date.
Legal Imperative for Adjustment
The development follows controversy over INEC’s earlier announcement fixing presidential and National Assembly elections for 20 February 2027, and governorship and state assembly elections for 6 March 2027.
The National Assembly has since passed the Electoral Act 2026, which reduces the mandatory notice period for elections from 360 days to 300 days. Clause 28 now mandates INEC to publish election notices not later than 300 days before polling.
Legal experts argue that the amendment automatically renders the earlier timetable subject to review.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana, described a revised timetable as mandatory. “There must be a new timetable in line with the new Electoral Act. That is the place of law,” he said.
Another constitutional lawyer noted that once a new law comes into force, it supersedes prior frameworks. He warned that failure to align the timetable could invite pre-election litigation.
Parties Seek Clarity
Political parties have also urged INEC to act swiftly.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), through its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said timely clarification was essential for parties to conduct primaries, congresses, and national conventions without breaching statutory deadlines.
Similarly, the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) called for early notice, particularly if elections are moved forward. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) insisted that any timetable must strictly align with the new Act, though it expressed skepticism about INEC’s commitment to free and fair polls.
Religious Concerns Spark Debate
The initial February and March dates had drawn criticism from some Muslim groups who argued they coincided with Ramadan. However, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) opposed altering election dates on religious grounds.
PFN National Secretary, Bishop David Bakare, warned that adjusting civic processes to accommodate religious observances could undermine Nigeria’s secular status.
As debate continues, INEC faces mounting pressure to recalibrate the 2027 election calendar in line with the amended law while balancing political and public sensitivities.
