The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a revised timetable for the 2027 general election and adjusted the schedule for the 2026 Osun State governorship election following the enactment of the Electoral Act 2026.

The commission disclosed this in a statement issued late Thursday by National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

According to the revised timetable, the Presidential and National Assembly elections will now hold on January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

The adjustment follows the repeal of the Electoral Act 2022, which previously guided electoral timelines, and the introduction of new statutory provisions under the 2026 law.

The commission explained that the review was necessary to ensure compliance with the updated legal framework governing pre-election and electoral activities.

Under the new schedule, political party primaries, including the resolution of disputes arising from the exercises, will run from April 23 to May 30, 2026.

Presidential and National Assembly election campaigns will commence on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will begin on September 9, 2026.

INEC reiterated that all campaigns must end 24 hours before election day and urged political parties to strictly adhere to the approved timelines, warning that the commission would enforce compliance.

The commission also confirmed that preparations for the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections had already begun but stated that outstanding activities would now be conducted in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

INEC stressed that the revised timetable aligns with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and called on political parties and stakeholders to cooperate in ensuring peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections.

“The successful conduct of the forthcoming elections remains a collective responsibility,” the commission said, urging citizens to support efforts aimed at strengthening the country’s electoral process.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has described the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its own nemesis, accusing the party of self-inflicted political damage and reckless allegations following a shooting incident involving its members in Edo State.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, the National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Felix Morka, CON, dismissed claims by the ADC that the ruling party was responsible for the incident, calling the accusation delusional and a sign of a party lacking focus and regard for due process.

“The ADC and its leaders are insufferable jesters. They weaponize dark humor as a strategy to deceive, distract and disrupt in desperation for public sympathy,” Morka stated.

The APC spokesman noted that the ADC had rushed to judgment by accusing the APC even before law enforcement agencies could conduct an investigation. “Accusing the APC even before any investigation is carried out by law enforcement is particularly senseless, and shows the ADC as a party that lacks focus and without regard for the due process of law. By its baseless conclusion, the party has declared itself to be the accuser, investigator, prosecutor, and judge in its own cause,” he said.

Morka questioned the capacity of a party that cannot manage a single incident with maturity to handle the complexities of Nigeria’s security environment. He also condemned the ADC’s reference to “acts of terrorism by the ruling APC” as reckless and unjustifiable, adding that the characterization revealed a party desperate to whip up sentiments and insensitive to the sacrifices of troops fighting terrorism.

While condemning all forms of political violence, the APC National Publicity Secretary called on security agencies to investigate the incident thoroughly, beginning with the ADC itself. “Investigation of this incident should begin with a thorough scrutiny of the ADC, its leaders and members as prime suspects. As a party of leaders without members, the ADC is overrun by internal leadership and cult-like supremacy struggles,” Morka stated.

He further alleged that law enforcement should focus on violent clashes among factional leaders within the ADC over control of party meetings. “The ADC cannot smear our great Party with a violent incident of its own exclusive making,” he added.

The incident in question occurred on February 24, 2026, when armed thugs attacked the ADC secretariat on Ogbelaka Street in Benin City shortly after a political event welcoming former Labour Party governorship candidate Olumide Akpata into the ADC . The attackers, who arrived in multiple vehicles, fired shots and vandalized property at the secretariat before proceeding to the residence of former APC National Chairman and ex-Edo State Governor, John Odigie-Oyegun, on Reservation Road . At Oyegun’s residence, vehicles were riddled with bullets and the gate was left with visible bullet marks .

Among those who narrowly escaped the attack was the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who had attended the event . Odigie-Oyegun later revealed that they had received intelligence from security agencies about a planned attack, prompting them to cut short proceedings . “Halfway through the proceedings, we got intelligence report certainly from one of the security agencies that they have information that the place is going to be attacked, so we should please try to wind up. You can’t ignore information. So we cut short our proceedings and I think we were just barely lucky to have left there in time because thereafter it looked like all hell broke loose,” Oyegun recounted . Three persons were reportedly injured during the attack .

The Edo State Police Command confirmed the incident, with its spokesperson stating that investigations were ongoing and no arrests had been made as of 24 hours after the attack . The Edo State Government has denied any involvement, with Governor Monday Okpebholo’s spokesperson describing the allegations as “false, malicious and a clear misrepresentation of the facts” .

Morka reiterated that the APC had no role in the shooting, emphasizing that the party was focused on celebrating its recent electoral victories in the FCT, Rivers, and Kano states rather than paying attention to what he described as a fringe meeting of ADC members in Edo State.

“We are grateful to Nigerians for the solid and growing support of our great Party. We particularly appreciate the electorate in the FCT, Kano and Rivers states for their eloquent vote of confidence in our Party, and in the visionary and transformative leadership of President Bola Tinubu, GCFR,” Morka said.

He concluded by affirming that the APC and President Tinubu remain committed to building a stronger and more prosperous nation for all Nigerians.

President Bola Tinubu has dismissed allegations that his administration is responsible for weakening opposition parties or forcing political defections in the country.

The president stated that he neither pressured nor coerced any politician to abandon their political parties, explaining that individuals who moved to the ruling party did so out of personal and political conviction.

Tinubu made the remarks during an interfaith iftar with members of the Senate at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

He emphasised that democracy guarantees freedom of association, adding that politicians have the right to choose the political platforms they wish to belong to.

The president rejected claims that his government was orchestrating opposition defections, insisting that political realignments were driven by changing political realities rather than state pressure.

He further called for unity among political leaders and urged stakeholders to prioritise cooperation and constructive dialogue to strengthen democratic governance in Nigeria.

According to him, sustainable democracy thrives on inclusiveness, tolerance, and peaceful political engagement rather than hostility or intimidation.