Nigeria’s major opposition parties say they are ready for the 2027 general elections following the release of the timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission but are demanding credible and transparent polls.
The Peoples Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party and African Democratic Congress said they are prepared to participate, stressing that the integrity of the process will determine the legitimacy of the outcome.
INEC said presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on Feb. 20, 2027, while governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly polls will run from Nov. 18, 2026, to Feb. 19, 2027. Governorship and state Assembly campaigns will begin Dec. 15, 2026, and end March 5, 2027, 24 hours before the elections.
Political parties are expected to conduct primaries between July 1 and Sept. 30, 2026, and submit their candidates’ lists between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31, 2026.
PDP declares readiness
A faction of the PDP’s National Caretaker Committee aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike , said the party is fully prepared for the elections.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Jungudo Mohammed, the committee urged members and aspirants to remain focused, assuring them that internal disputes and pending litigation would be resolved before the primaries window.
“The PDP is fully prepared to meet all constitutional and regulatory requirements within the stipulated timelines,” the statement said, reaffirming the party’s commitment to what it described as credible leadership in 2027.
Separately, the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the PDP also declared readiness for the polls, provided INEC guarantees free, fair and credible elections.
Its National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, said the party would be ready whenever INEC is prepared, as long as the commission ensures credible polls.
NNPP questions election budget
The NNPP welcomed the timetable but urged INEC to use the intervening period to prepare for an election acceptable to Nigerians and the international community.
The party’s spokesperson, Ladipo Johnson, expressed concern over the N873.778 billion budgeted 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?” Johnson said. “I don’t know what they budgeted N800 billion for, but it sounds ridiculous.”
ADC calls for real-time transmission
The ADC also welcomed the timetable but said the credibility of the elections would depend on transparent procedures, particularly the real-time electronic transmission of results.
In a statement, its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said while the early release of the timetable allows for proper planning, public confidence will rest on INEC’s commitment to transparency and technological integrity.
He urged the commission to clarify its readiness to adopt real-time transmission if legal amendments are enacted and called on 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,” Abdullahi said. “What is now required is for the electoral umpire to match that civic vigilance with institutional clarity, operational transparency and administrative excellence.”
