Nigeria’s electoral commission and the National Assembly have agreed in principle to move the 2027 presidential election to Jan. 16, 2027, from the previously scheduled Feb. 20 date, according to multiple officials familiar with the discussions.
The governorship elections are also expected to be brought forward to Jan. 30, 2027, the officials said Monday, cautioning that the proposal remains subject to debate and approval by lawmakers.
The shift follows consultations between the Independent National Electoral Commission and leaders of the National Assembly of Nigeria amid criticism that the earlier February date coincided with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
A senior official at the electoral commission, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to comment publicly, said the new dates had been agreed upon after several meetings. A ranking senator confirmed the proposal but said it could still change during deliberations.
The National Assembly announced Sunday that it would reconvene plenary Tuesday, cutting short its recess to consider what it described as “very crucial decisions.” Lawmakers suspended a planned harmonization meeting on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill to focus on the emergency session.
INEC had initially scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for Feb. 20, 2027, with governorship and state assembly polls set for March 6, 2027. The February date drew criticism from Muslim groups and political figures who noted that Ramadan in 2027 is projected to run from Feb. 7 to March 8.
In a statement last week, INEC said the timetable was drawn in compliance with constitutional and statutory requirements but acknowledged concerns about its overlap with “nationally recognized holidays and observances.” The commission said it was consulting stakeholders and could seek legislative intervention if adjustments were deemed necessary.
The debate over election dates comes amid broader discussions on amendments to the Electoral Act, including provisions on electronic transmission of results. The Senate recently approved electronic transmission to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal but stopped short of making real-time uploads mandatory, retaining manual collation as a backup.
If adopted, the January dates would make the 2027 presidential election one of the earliest in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, potentially shortening campaign timelines and accelerating party primaries and logistical preparations.
Lawmakers are also considering reforms aimed at ensuring that election petitions are resolved before the May 29, 2027 inauguration date.
A final decision is expected after deliberations during the emergency plenary session.
