2027: INEC Shuts Down Viral ‘Revised’ Campaign Timetable, Calls It Fake
By: Oluwaseun M. Lawal
It started like many election-season rumors do. A neatly designed graphic. Clean dates. Confident claims. And suddenly, timelines were shifting — at least on social media.
But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says, not so fast.
The commission has disowned a campaign timetable for the 2027 general elections currently making the rounds online, describing it as fake and misleading. According to INEC, no such revision was issued. None at all.
The viral image claimed that campaign deadlines had been slightly adjusted — pushing the end date for presidential and National Assembly campaigns to January 15, 2027, instead of January 14. It also suggested governorship and state Assembly campaigns would now close on February 5, rather than February 4. The election dates themselves, however, remained unchanged in the graphic.
Convincing? Maybe. Accurate? No.
Speaking on Wednesday, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, made it clear that the commission does not release campaign timetables in isolation.
“This graphic did not emanate from INEC,” he said firmly. “The commission does not release campaign timetables separately.”
He explained that all campaign schedules are already embedded in the official timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, which was released on February 26, 2026. That document, he noted, remains the only authentic reference point.
Under the approved timetable, INEC will issue the notice of election on February 13, 2026. Campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections are to begin on August 19, 2026, while governorship and state Assembly campaigns will start on September 9, 2026.
And the closing dates? Still the same.
January 14, 2027, for presidential and National Assembly campaigns.
February 4, 2027, for governorship and state Assembly campaigns.
Elections will hold as earlier scheduled — January 16, 2027, and February 6, 2027, respectively. No adjustments. At least not from INEC.
Oketola urged journalists, political actors and citizens to verify information strictly through the commission’s official platforms. As the political season draws nearer, he warned, misinformation will only get louder. And faster.
The message from INEC is simple: Check before you share. Not everything that looks official is authentic
Oluwaseun Musa Lawal is an Editor at REPORTERS ROOM with over eight years of professional journalism experience. He specializes in reporting on politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial affairs. His work is driven by a commitment to accuracy, balanced reporting, and public-interest journalism.
