The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted claims circulating on social media that it has released a revised campaign timetable for the 2027 general elections, describing the widely shared graphic as false.
The viral image alleged that the electoral body had issued an official campaign schedule in accordance with the Electoral Act, introducing new dates for the conclusion of electioneering activities.
According to the misleading graphic, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections would now end on January 15, 2027, instead of January 14 as stated in INEC’s approved timetable.
It also claimed that governorship and state House of Assembly campaigns would close on February 5, 2027, rather than February 4.
Despite the altered campaign deadlines, the graphic retained January 16, 2027, as the date for the presidential and National Assembly elections and February 6, 2027, for the governorship and state House of Assembly polls.
Responding to the reports on Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, dismissed the document as unauthorised, stressing that the commission had not issued any separate campaign timetable.
“This graphic did not emanate from INEC. The commission does not issue campaign timetables separately.
“All official campaign timelines are already contained within the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general election, which was released on February 26, 2026,” Oketola said.
He urged journalists and the public to rely only on information published through the commission’s official platforms to avoid being misled.
“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 added.
INEC had on February 26, 2026, unveiled the revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, fixing January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections and February 6, 2027, for the governorship and state House of Assembly polls.
The timetable provides that the commission will issue the notice of election on February 13, 2026.
It also states that campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state House of Assembly campaigns will commence on September 9, 2026.
Under the approved schedule, campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will end on January 14, 2027, while those for governorship and state House of Assembly elections will conclude on February 4, 2027, exactly 24 hours before the respective elections.