INEC to Adjust 2027 Poll Timetable After New Electoral Act 2026 Enactment

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to revise the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections following the enactment of the new Electoral Act 2026.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja. He explained that the Commission had earlier issued a Notice of Election on February 13, 2026, under the Electoral Act 2022, but the passage of the new law necessitates adjustments.
According to him, the earlier notice was based on the old legal framework, making it imperative for the Commission to realign its plans with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 by issuing a revised timetable for the 2027 polls.
Prof. Amupitan stressed that the review is essential to ensure full compliance with the new law and maintain operational coherence. He disclosed that the Commission would also review its Regulations and Guidelines for the 2027 elections.
He further outlined preparatory measures, including a Voters Revalidation Exercise aimed at strengthening the credibility of the voters’ register, as well as the ongoing second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which commenced on January 5 and will run until April 17, 2026, as part of a broader exercise expected to conclude on August 30, 2026.
The INEC chairman spoke during a post-election review session following the February 21, 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election and bye-elections conducted in Kano and Rivers states.
While commending the peaceful conduct of the polls and the improved performance in result uploads to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal — which averaged 97 per cent in the FCT exercise — he identified voter education, punctual opening of polling units, and logistics as areas requiring urgent improvement.
He directed RECs to intensify voter education efforts in their respective states, insisting that sensitisation must be continuous rather than occasional. He urged citizens to verify their polling unit details ahead of elections through the Commission’s online Polling Unit Locator.
Prof. Amupitan also warned against logistical shortcomings, expressing dissatisfaction with the 45 per cent opening rate of polling units by 8:30 a.m. during the FCT election. He described the performance as below standard and cautioned that acts capable of undermining public confidence would not be tolerated.
Emphasising accountability, the INEC chairman reminded RECs that they represent the Commission in their states and must ensure effective supervision, early deployment of personnel and materials, and strict oversight of Electoral Officers.
The meeting also featured the swearing-in of Dr. Chukwu Chukwuemeka Joseph as the new Resident Electoral Commissioner for Abia State. Prof. Amupitan congratulated him and urged him to align with the Commission’s renewed focus under the new Electoral Act.
In a related development, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON), led by its National Chairman, Mamman Nda Eri, paid a courtesy visit to the INEC chairman.
The delegation congratulated Prof. Amupitan on his appointment and called for deeper collaboration between INEC and state electoral bodies in areas such as capacity building, technology sharing, voter education, research, and policy dialogue.
Eri commended INEC for setting benchmarks in electoral administration and technological innovation, particularly in digital tools deployment and result transparency, and expressed optimism that strengthened institutional cooperation would enhance the credibility and integrity of elections across all tiers of government.
With INEC set to release a revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, stakeholders expect adjustments to key dates for nominations, campaigns, and polling in line with the new legal framework and the Commission’s drive to improve transparency, efficiency, and public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process.