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INEC refutes reports of revised 2027 campaign timetable

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Independent National Electoral Commission has refuted reports circulating on social media claiming it had revised the campaign timetable for the 2027 general elections. A graphic circulating online had claimed that the commission released the official campaign timetable for the 2027 general election in line with the Electoral Act. The circulation claimed that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections would end on January 15, 2027, instead of January 14 as contained in the commission’s official timetable. It also claimed that campaigns for the governorship and state House of Assembly elections would end on February 5, 2027, rather than February 4.

The purported timetable retained January 16, 2027, as the date for the presidential and National Assembly elections and February 6, 2027, for the governorship and state assembly polls.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, told PUNCH Online on Wednesday that the commission had not issued any separate campaign timetable.

Oketola described the viral graphic as fake, insisting that it did not originate from INEC.

He urged the media and members of the public to verify electoral information through the commission’s official communication channels.

“We advise the media and the public to always verify electoral information through our official channels. As we enter the election season, we must all remain vigilant against the spread of misinformation and disinformation,” he added.

On February 26, 2026, INEC released the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, with the presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the governorship and state Assembly elections for February 6, 2027.

According to the timetable, the commission will issue the notice of election on February 13, 2026.

The timetable also provides that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will commence on August 19, 2026, while those for governorship and state assembly elections will begin on September 9, 2026.