INEC amends election timetable, picks Jan 16 for presidential poll

AI Summary

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced that the presidential and National Assembly elections will be held on 16 January 2027, with governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for 6 February 2027. The new timetable replaces the earlier dates of 20 February for the presidential and National Assembly polls and 6 March for the state elections, which had drawn criticism for overlapping with the Ramadan period. Former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar publicly objected to the original schedule, describing it as insensitive to the religious observance. INEC’s statement, issued by National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna, indicates that the revised dates will now be used for the upcoming electoral cycle.

Reliability

Single source: Daily Trust. Treat with caution.