ABUJA: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to adjust the timetable for the 2027 general elections in the wake of the Electoral Act 2026.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, disclosed the development on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Abuja.

Prof. Amupitan explained that the Commission had earlier issued a Notice of Election on February 13, 2026, under the previous Electoral Act 2022.

“With the introduction of the new Electoral Act, we have to make some adjustments and issue a revised timetable for the 2027 General Election,” he said, stressing that the revision would ensure full legal compliance and operational coherence.

The Chairman also revealed that INEC would review its Regulations and Guidelines for the 2027 polls to align them with the new law. Preparatory activities include a Voters Revalidation Exercise to clean and strengthen the voters’ register.

The second phase of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which began on January 5, 2026, will run until April 17, 2026, as part of a year-long exercise expected to conclude on August 30, 2026.

The meeting provided a review of recent off-cycle elections, including the February 21, 2026, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council election, and bye-elections in Kano and Rivers states.

While commending the generally peaceful conduct of the polls and a 97 percent average result uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal during the FCT election, Prof. Amupitan highlighted areas for improvement, particularly voter education, punctual opening of polling units, and logistics.

He urged RECs to sustain voter sensitization and warned against logistical lapses, noting that only 45 percent of polling units opened by 8:30 a.m. in recent elections, falling short of INEC standards.

“As Resident Electoral Commissioners, you are the Commission in your states. The buck stops with you. Strengthen supervision, ensure early deployment of personnel and materials, and hold your Electoral Officers accountable,” he stated.

The session also featured the swearing-in of Dr. Chukwu Chukwuemeka Joseph as the new REC for Abia State.

Additionally, the Commission received a delegation from the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON), led by National Chairman Mamman Nda Eri.

The forum proposed deeper collaboration with INEC on capacity building, technology sharing, voter education, research, and policy dialogue.

Eri commended INEC’s reforms and technological innovations, expressing optimism that closer cooperation would further strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

With the revised 2027 election timetable expected soon, stakeholders anticipate that dates for party primaries, nominations, campaigns, and polling will reflect the new legal provisions and INEC’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and public trust.