As maneuvering ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections intensifies, the ruling All Progressives Congress has begun consolidating its internal structures, while the Independent National Electoral Commission is preparing to revise the electoral timetable amid succession calculations and criticism of a fragmented opposition.
On Tuesday, the APC inaugurated its National Central Coordinating Committee for the 2026 National Convention, signaling renewed attention to the party’s presidential ticket ahead of next year’s elections.
INEC Chairman Prof. Joash O. Amupitan said the commission will issue a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections following the enactment of the Electoral Act Amendment 2026. Amupitan made the announcement during a meeting with resident electoral commissioners and the swearing-in of Dr. Chukwu Chukwu-Emeka Joseph as REC for Abia State.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill 2026 into law shortly after the National Assembly passed it. The commission had previously set presidential and National Assembly elections for Feb. 20, 2027, and governorship and state assembly polls for March 6, 2027. Critics, including some Muslim groups, said the dates clash with Ramadan.
The amended Clause 28 of the law now requires INEC to publish election notices at least 300 days before any scheduled election. Amupitan explained that although a notice of election was issued Feb. 13, 2026, it was under the old law. “With the introduction of the new Electoral Act, we have to make some adjustments and issue a revised timetable for the 2027 general election,” he said.
Amupitan also announced a comprehensive voter revalidation exercise to sanitize the national register ahead of the polls. He said the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration, which began Jan. 5, 2026, will continue through April 17, 2026, with the full cycle concluding Aug. 30.
Reflecting on recent elections, the INEC chairman said the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and by-elections in Kano and Rivers states were largely peaceful. He noted operational challenges, such as delayed opening of polling units, would be investigated and addressed.
He also highlighted improvements to the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, noting the system now captures images of completed results forms, validates vote totals, and flags any over-voting before results are transmitted to the INEC Result Viewing Portal. About 97% of FCT results were successfully uploaded during recent elections, he said.
At the APC convention inauguration, Chairman Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda described the event as a reaffirmation of the party’s commitment to democratic values and internal democracy. He highlighted victories in by-elections in the FCT, Kano, and Rivers as evidence of the party’s dominance.
The convention committee, chaired by former Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari, includes former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim as vice chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, governor of Kwara State, and Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo State. Former Borno State Governor Mai Mala Buni will serve as secretary, while former APC national chairman Bisi Akande is a member.
Masari pledged transparency, inclusiveness, and impartiality in organizing the convention. “A successful convention will not only strengthen our internal cohesion but also reinforce public confidence in our party as a disciplined, democratic, and responsible platform capable of providing leadership for Nigeria,” he said.
Olisa Agbakoba, a human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, criticized opposition parties as weak and lacking policy alternatives to challenge the current administration. Speaking in Lagos, Agbakoba said opposition politics in Nigeria has failed to engage citizens on substantive issues, citing insecurity, economic hardship, and displacement as opportunities for issue-based campaigns. He called for reforms in the electoral system, including statutory backing for electronic transmission of results.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria urged the government to resist manipulating state institutions, including INEC, security agencies, and the judiciary, for partisan advantage. In a communiqué issued in Abuja, outgoing CBCN President Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji and Secretary Donatus Ogun Osaq cited low voter turnout as evidence of growing apathy and called for free, fair, and credible elections.
Tinubu Eyes 2027 Ticket
President Tinubu is reportedly considering Defence Minister retired Gen. Christopher Musa as his running mate for 2027, sources say, a move aimed at addressing the U.S. designation of Nigeria as a “country of particular concern.” Current Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima may not run alongside Tinubu.
Plans under discussion include reassigning Shettima to nominate the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the National Security Adviser. Nuhu Ribadu, the current NSA, may resume his governorship ambition in Adamawa State and position himself for a possible 2031 presidential bid.
Tinubu is also said to be reaching out to leaders in the North-West to secure support for Musa, with the zone possibly offered the Senate Presidency. Sources suggest the arrangement seeks to maintain religious and regional balance, paving the way for a Muslim successor in 2031.
The President is reportedly considering a more conciliatory approach in a second term, including creating a Research and Documentation Unit and appointing Sunday Dare to head public communications.
