The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the official timetable for Nigeria’s 2027 General Elections, highlighting key dates for voting, party primaries, campaigns, and voter registration.
The Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 20, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.
The release of the timetable comes against the backdrop of delays in the amendment of the Electoral Act currently before lawmakers.
Despite the legislative setback, INEC said on February 4 that it had concluded work on the schedule of activities for the elections.
N873.778bn Budget
Meanwhile, the electoral umpire has proposed a budget of N873.778 billion for the conduct of the 2027 general election.
Professor Amupitan who proposed the budget on Thursday before the National Assembly Joint Committee on Electoral Matters, explained that the amount was earmarked for the 2027 elections and is separate from INEC’s proposed N171 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year.
According to him, the latter is intended to fund routine activities such as by-elections and off-cycle polls.
Amupitan further stated that the estimated 2027 election cost does not factor in a new request from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) seeking an upward review of allowances for corps members engaged as ad-hoc election personnel.
Providing a breakdown of the nearly N1 trillion election budget, the INEC chairman said it comprises five key components: N379.748 billion for operational expenses; N92.317 billion for administrative costs; N209.206 billion for technology; N154.905 billion for capital expenditure; and N42.608 billion for miscellaneous expenses.
He added that the proposal was prepared in line with Section 3(3) of the Electoral Act 2022, which requires the Commission to submit its election budget at least one year before a general election.