The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has dismissed reports claiming it revised the campaign timetable for the 2027 general elections, describing the information circulating on social media as false. The commission said no new campaign timetable has been released and urged Nigerians to rely only on its official communication channels for election-related information.
The clarification followed the circulation of a graphic online alleging that INEC had adjusted the closing dates for campaigns ahead of the 2027 elections. The graphic claimed that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections would now end on January 15, 2027, instead of January 14, while governorship and State House of Assembly campaigns would close on February 5 instead of February 4.
It also 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.
Reacting to the claim, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, said the graphic did not originate from the electoral commission. He explained that INEC does not issue campaign timetables separately because all campaign dates are already contained in the official timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections released on February 26, 2026.
He advised journalists, political stakeholders and members of the public to verify every election-related report through the commission’s official platforms before sharing or acting on such information. He also warned against the spread of false information as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.
INEC recalled that the revised timetable released earlier this year fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
According to the official schedule, the commission will issue the notice of election on February 13, 2026. Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state assembly campaigns will commence on September 9, 2026.
The timetable also states that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will end on January 14, 2027, while those for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections will close on February 4, 2027, exactly 24 hours before the respective elections. INEC maintained that these dates remain valid and that no changes have been made.