The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has completed the internal drafting of the 2027 General Election timetable and schedule of activities, signalling its technical readiness for the next national polls. Despite this milestone, the commission confirmed Wednesday that it is withholding the formal publication of the document pending the conclusion of legislative reforms currently before the National Assembly.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this development during a high-level engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the commission's headquarters in Abuja. Amupitan, who assumed leadership of the electoral body in October 2025, emphasised that while the commission’s administrative preparations are ahead of schedule, the legal "rules of the engagement" must be finalised to avoid a mid-cycle crisis.
The chairman explained that the commission has already forwarded its technical recommendations to the federal lawmakers but remains in a state of strategic pause. He noted that the specific dates and sequences of activities contained in the finalised timetable are subject to the final provisions of the Electoral Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill 2026, which is currently undergoing clause-by-clause consideration in the Senate.
"We have concluded work on the election timetable and the comprehensive schedule of activities for 2027," Professor Amupitan stated during the session. "However, the timing of the amendments to the legal framework is critical. We are awaiting legislative action because some activities outlined in our roadmap may require immediate adjustments to align with new statutory requirements."
The push for a finalised legal framework comes as the Nigerian Senate, led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, intensifies deliberations on the 2026 Bill. Lawmakers are seeking to modernise the voting process, improve result transmission transparency, and strengthen the institutional independence of the commission. Akpabio recently remarked that the chamber would not rush the process, stressing that thoroughness is essential to prevent the post-election litigation that has frequently dogged Nigerian polls.