Last updated: 1 November 2026 (checked; no INEC date changes since 18 October). Dates come from INEC’s revised timetable as reported by news outlets and from INEC statements and reports up to 1 November. INEC has changed its dates before, so confirm anything critical on inecnigeria.org.
2027 election deadlines in brief
- Next big dates: 10 December (polling agents), 15 December (official register of voters), 29 December (notice of poll).
- Presidential and National Assembly elections: Saturday 16 January 2027, with campaigns ending 14 January.
- Governorship and State Assembly elections: Saturday 6 February 2027, with campaigns ending 4 February.
- Original dates were 20 February and 6 March 2027, before the Electoral Act 2026 brought them forward.
- Progress: as of 6 October, INEC said nine of 14 statutory milestones in the revised timetable were complete.
Update, 19 October 2026: the voters’ register deadline. Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 required INEC to display the register for public scrutiny no later than 90 days before polling, which made 18 October the last day. INEC said the preliminary register was displayed at its offices from 9 to 15 October, and its Lagos office said the display took place in all 245 registration areas in the state. But FIJ reported that INEC’s online portal still showed no preliminary registers on 18 October, and Arise News reported restricted access in parts of Alimosho. Under Section 19(2), INEC has 14 days after display to deal with objections and corrections. If you could not check your name, visit your local INEC office now, and keep watching for the official register due on 15 December.
Nigeria’s general elections are now about three months away, and most of the candidate-selection steps are finished. What is left is the voter-facing and party-facing work: collecting cards, publishing the register, submitting polling agents and closing campaigns. This guide lists every remaining INEC deadline in order, explains what each means for voters and parties, and records what has already happened. For the full picture, including candidates and the voter numbers, see our 2027 Nigeria Election Hub.
Voting for the first time? Read our step-by-step guide to how to vote on election day, from BVAS accreditation to casting your ballot. To see how results are counted and uploaded, read what BVAS and IReV are.
For who won each party’s ticket, see our 2027 party primaries results.
Want to work at the polls? INEC’s portal for ad hoc election staff closes at midnight on 18 November 2026. See how to apply as INEC ad hoc staff.
Where the timetable stands
INEC issued the Notice of Election on 13 February 2026. Five days later, President Bola Tinubu signed the Electoral Act 2026, and INEC revised its timetable to fit the new law, moving the elections from 20 February and 6 March 2027 to 16 January and 6 February 2027. Since then the commission has run party primaries, taken nominations, published the final candidate lists and started PVC collection. Nine of 14 statutory milestones were complete on 6 October.
Every deadline still ahead
| Date | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Oct 2026 onward | Nationwide PVC collection and display of the voter register | Check your name and collect your card |
| Late Oct 2026 | INEC Media Accreditation Portal expected to open | For journalists covering the polls |
| 28 Oct 2026 to 1 Jan 2027 | INEC engagements with political parties on campaign finance | Rules on party spending |
| Nov 2026 | Mock accreditation and election simulation | INEC tests its BVAS and result systems |
| 18 Nov 2026 | Closing date for the INECPRES recruitment portal | Applications for election duty close |
| 10 Dec 2026 | Last day for parties to submit polling agents for the presidential and National Assembly elections | Agents go to LGA electoral officers |
| 15 Dec 2026 | INEC publishes the official Register of Voters | The final list of who can vote |
| 29 Dec 2026 | Publication of the Notice of Poll | The formal public notice of the election |
| 6 Jan 2027 | Last day for parties to submit polling agents for the governorship and State Assembly elections | Agents for the second round |
| 14 Jan 2027 | Presidential and National Assembly campaigns end | Campaigning stops before polling |
| 16 Jan 2027 | Presidential and National Assembly elections | Vote for President, Senate and House |
| 4 Feb 2027 | Governorship and State Assembly campaigns end | Campaigning stops before polling |
| 6 Feb 2027 | Governorship and State Assembly elections | Vote for governors and state lawmakers in the states on the national cycle |
| 28 May 2027 | Terms of the President, Vice-President and most governors expire | Handover date |
| 8 Jun 2027 | National and State Assemblies stand dissolved | End of the current legislative term |
Two points about the table. First, dates in late October and November (media accreditation, the mock accreditation and the recruitment portal closing) come from INEC’s briefings rather than the statutory timetable, so they can move. Second, the campaign-end dates are stated as 14 January and 4 February in the published timetable, even though INEC describes campaigns as ending 24 hours before polling. Treat those as the last campaign day and check INEC’s notice if you are planning around them.
What the key dates mean for you
If you are a voter
Your job is simple: be on the register, hold a valid PVC and know your polling unit. The register display and PVC collection began on 9 October. See how to check if your PVC is ready, because INEC says cards for people who registered between 5 January and 26 July 2026 are not yet available. Then find your polling unit. The official register of voters is due on 15 December, which is the version that counts on polling day.
If you work for a party
Parties must submit polling agents to local government electoral officers by 10 December for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and by 6 January for the governorship and State Assembly elections. INEC’s campaign finance engagements with parties run from 28 October to 1 January.
If you are a journalist or observer
The INEC media accreditation portal is expected to open before the end of October. Mock accreditation is scheduled for November.
The governorship round
The governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections hold on 6 February 2027 in the states on the national cycle. Polling agents are due on 6 January and campaigns end on 4 February. Several states hold their governorship elections off-cycle; see our list of Nigerian governors for the state-by-state picture. The terms of the President, Vice-President and most governors expire on 28 May 2027.
What has already happened
| Date | What happens | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Feb 2026 | INEC issued the Notice of Election | |
| 18 Feb 2026 | Electoral Act 2026 signed; timetable revised | Election dates moved forward |
| 1 to 21 Apr 2026 | Parties submitted membership registers | |
| 23 Apr to 30 May 2026 | Party primaries and dispute resolution | |
| 27 Jun to 11 Jul 2026 | Nomination forms, presidential and National Assembly | |
| 18 Jul to 8 Aug 2026 | Nomination forms, governorship and State Assembly | |
| 19 Aug 2026 | Presidential and National Assembly campaigns began | |
| 9 Sep 2026 | Governorship and State Assembly campaigns began | |
| 12 Sep 2026 | Final list of presidential and National Assembly candidates | |
| 10 Oct 2026 | Final list of governorship and State Assembly candidates |
What if no presidential candidate wins outright?
The constitution sets a winning threshold for a presidential candidate. If nobody passes it, a second round is held between the top candidate and the next candidate. We did not find a published run-off date in the sources we checked, so look for it in INEC’s own notices if the first round is inconclusive.
Frequently asked questions
When is the 2027 presidential election in Nigeria?
Saturday 16 January 2027, together with the National Assembly elections.
When is the 2027 governorship election?
Saturday 6 February 2027, together with the State Houses of Assembly elections, in the states on the national cycle.
When do campaigns end?
14 January 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections and 4 February 2027 for the governorship and State Assembly elections, according to the published timetable.
When will the official register of voters be published?
INEC’s timetable lists 15 December 2026.
When will the notice of poll be published?
29 December 2026.
Have the election dates changed?
Yes. They were originally 20 February and 6 March 2027. They were moved to 16 January and 6 February 2027 after the Electoral Act 2026 was signed.
When does the current government’s term end?
The terms of the President, Vice-President and most governors expire on 28 May 2027.
Bottom line
The next date that matters to most readers is a personal one: make sure your name is on the register, your PVC is in your hands, and you know where you vote. Everything else on the calendar, from the register publication on 15 December to the notice of poll on 29 December, follows from that. Keep the 2027 election hub bookmarked for updates, and the registration guide if you still need to fix your details.
Sources: Glamtush, INEC revised 2027 timetable; TVC News, key dates to remember; Voice of Nigeria, INEC issues revised timetable; WithinNigeria, revised campaign timetable; Political Economist, INEC briefing of 13 Oct 2026; Techeconomy, register crosses 103m.
The register is the one to watch. INEC says the display ran from 9 to 15 October, but FIJ found nothing on the online portal by the 18th, and some voters in Alimosho reported restricted access. Were you able to check your name at your ward?
With polling moved to 16 January, campaigns, Christmas travel and the final register on 15 December all land in the same few weeks. Which deadline on this list do you think is most likely to catch voters out?