INEC clears the air on false reports about 2027 campaign timetable

The Independent National Electoral Commission has denied reports on social media that it changed the campaign timetable for the 2027 general elections.

A graphic shared online claimed that the commission released a new campaign timetable that followed the Electoral Act.

This graphic said that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections would now end on January 15, 2027, instead of January 14 as noted in the official timetable.

It also claimed that the end date for campaigns for governorship and state House of Assembly elections would shift to February 5, 2027, rather than February 4.

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

Responding to these claims, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, told PUNCH Online on Wednesday that the commission has not released any new campaign timetable.

Oketola called the graphic fake and assured that it did not come from INEC. He said, "This graphic did not emanate from INEC. The commission does not issue campaign timetables separately."

He added, "All official campaign timelines are already contained within the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election, which was released on February 26, 2026."

Oketola urged the media and the public to confirm electoral information through the commission's official channels.

He said, "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."

On February 26, 2026, INEC shared the revised timetable and schedule for the 2027 general elections. The presidential and National Assembly polls are set for January 16, 2027, and the governorship and state Assembly elections for February 6, 2027.

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

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

It further says that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will close on January 14, 2027, while those for the governorship and state House of Assembly elections will end on February 4, 2027, exactly 24 hours before the elections.