Preparations for the 2027 general elections for political campaigns officially commenced today, Wednesday, August 19, 2026.
Thefrontrank reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had on July 23 released the official timetable for political campaigns in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC, announced in a public notice, had announced that campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on Tuesday, August 19, 2026, and end on Friday, January 15, 2027, 24 hours before the elections scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027.
The commission added that campaigns for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections would begin on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, and conclude on Friday, February 5, 2027, ahead of the elections slated for Saturday, February 6, 2027
The electoral umpire stated that the timetable was drawn in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026, which provides that political campaigns shall commence no earlier than 150 days before an election and must end at least 24 hours before polling.
According to Section 98(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026, the law states that “For this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 150 days before polling day and end 24 hours before that day.”
On the other hand, the immediately succeeding subsection, Section 98(2), provides:
“A registered political party which, through any person acting on its behalf during the 24 hours before polling day, (a) advertises on the facilities of any broadcasting undertaking or (b) procures for publication or acquiesces in the publication of an advertisement in a newspaper, for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular candidate, commits an offence under this Act and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of ₦2,000,000.”
Ahead of the official kick-off date, political parties, presidential and National Assembly candidates on Tuesday signed the National Peace Accord on issue-based campaigns.
They pledged to shun violence, hate speech, misinformation, personal attacks and other conduct capable of undermining the electoral process.
Other participants were the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda; the presidential candidates of the Peoples Redemption Party, and Labour Party, Donald Duke, Chibuzor Okereke, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin; the PRP National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed; federal and state lawmakers, party leaders and other candidates.
The accord was signed in Abuja at a ceremony organised by the National Peace Committee in partnership with The Kukah Centre.
Also in attendance were the INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan; political party leaders; presidential candidates; National Assembly candidates; the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and representatives of the diplomatic community, among other stakeholders.
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