Breaking: Nigeria Election May Hold In 2027 As N'Assembly Propose New Date -

Nigeria’s next presidential and governorship elections may hold in November 2026, following a proposal by the National Assembly to move the polls six months earlier than usual.

The move, contained in the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, seeks to ensure that all election petitions are concluded before the May 29, 2027, handover date.

According to The Guardian, the draft amendment was unveiled on Monday during a public hearing jointly organised by the Senate and House Committees on Electoral Matters in Abuja.

The event drew wide attention from politicians, civil society groups and the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Under the proposal, elections into the offices of President and Governor would be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of the incumbents’ tenure, effectively fixing the polls for November 2026 instead of the traditional February or March period.

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Section 4(7) of the draft reads, “Elections into the office of the President and Governor of a state shall be held not later than 185 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of the office.”

Electoral Committee Chairman Speak

Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, said the aim was to allow all tribunal and appeal processes to be completed before elected leaders assume office.

“We are proposing that all tribunal judgments be concluded within 90 days, appeals within 60 days, and Supreme Court decisions within the remaining days, ensuring everything is wrapped up within 185 days,” he said.

The National Assembly also plans to amend Sections 285 and 139 of the 1999 Constitution to align the new timelines for resolving election disputes.

Other key provisions in the bill include mandatory electronic voting, electronic transmission of results and early voting for security personnel, INEC staff, journalists, and other essential workers, allowing them to cast their ballots up to 14 days before election day.

The Guardian Newspaper reports that INEC’s representative, Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, said the reforms would “enhance electoral credibility, allow better planning, and minimise post-election pressure on the courts.”

If passed into law, the amendment would reset Nigeria’s electoral calendar and could reshape how elections and transitions are conducted.