INEC says a viral graphic altering campaign end dates by one day did not come from the commission
CLAIM: A graphic circulating online claims the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) released an adjusted campaign timetable for the 2027 general election, shifting key campaign end dates by one day.
VERDICT: False. INEC says the graphic did not originate from the commission and does not reflect its official timetable.
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What the circulating graphic claimed
The graphic claimed that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections would run from 19 August 2026 to 15 January 2027, instead of 14 January 2027 as stated in INEC’s actual timetable, with elections to follow on 16 January.
It further claimed that governorship and state assembly campaigns would run from 9 September 2026 to 5 February 2027, with elections on 6 February. The graphic also claimed that campaigns can only begin 150 days before an election and must end 24 hours before polling.
Why the claim is false
Speaking to TheCable on Tuesday evening, Adedayo Oketola, Chief Press Secretary to INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan, said the information did not come from the commission.
“This graphic did not emanate from INEC. The commission does not issue campaign timetables separately,” Oketola said.
Oketola said all official campaign timelines are already contained within the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election, which INEC released on 26 February 2026. He urged the media and the public to verify electoral information through the commission’s official channels.
“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,” he said.
What INEC’s actual timetable says
INEC‘s genuine, revised timetable, released on 26 February 2026, fixes 16 January 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and 6 February 2027 for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections. The commission issued its notice of election on 13 February 2026.
According to the authentic timetable, campaigns by political parties begin on 19 August 2026 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and on 9 September 2026 for governorship and state assembly polls.
Campaigns officially end on 14 January 2027 for the presidential and National Assembly elections, and on 4 February 2027 for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections, in both cases 24 hours before polling, exactly one day earlier than the dates claimed in the fake graphic.
This is not the first time INEC has had to debunk a fake 2027 timetable. The commission issued similar denials in January 2026, after unrelated claims circulated that it had released a full timetable and schedule of activities before the genuine version was published in February.
