Political campaigning for Nigeria’s 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections officially begins today, August 19, 2026, opening a new phase in the race for the country’s presidency.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has lifted the restriction on public campaigns, allowing political parties and candidates to begin rallies, grassroots mobilisation and other activities aimed at winning voters.
Under the Electoral Act 2026, public campaigns are permitted to begin 250 days before election day and must end 24 hours before voting. INEC’s timetable puts the presidential and National Assembly elections on January 16, 2027.
Campaigning for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections is scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026, ahead of those elections on February 6, 2027.
The presidential contest is expected to be dominated by three major political figures: incumbent President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
The emerging contest has similarities with the 2023 election, when Tinubu, Atiku and Obi were also among the leading candidates.
However, the political landscape has changed considerably since then, with opposition parties attempting to build a broader coalition capable of challenging the APC at the federal level.
One of the major developments ahead of the campaign season is the effort by opposition groups to establish a united front.
The G-100 Coalition, led by former APC national vice-chairman Salihu Lukman, has been working to bring opposition parties and political leaders together with the aim of producing a stronger challenge to the ruling party.
The coalition is expected to hold a unity summit in Abuja as part of efforts to reconcile competing interests and explore the possibility of a consensus presidential candidate.
However, reaching an agreement among major opposition figures could prove difficult because of their individual presidential ambitions and differing political interests.
While opposition parties continue their efforts to strengthen their alliance, the ruling APC says it is also preparing for the election.
The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bala Ibrahim, said the APC would work to retain the confidence of Nigerians and secure the renewal of President Tinubu’s mandate.
APC National Publicity Secretary Felix Morka also said the party was developing a comprehensive nationwide campaign programme after consultations with relevant stakeholders.
Morka noted that although August 19 is the earliest date parties are permitted to begin presidential campaigning, parties are not legally required to launch their campaigns on that exact day.
As candidates begin campaigning, major national issues are expected to dominate their messages to voters.
These include economic hardship, inflation, unemployment, insecurity, poverty and the impact of the Federal Government’s reforms.
The APC is expected to campaign on the achievements of the Tinubu administration and its Renewed Hope Agenda, while opposition candidates are likely to focus on areas where they believe the government has fallen short.
The ability of candidates to present credible solutions to these challenges could play a major role in determining how Nigerians vote.
With the campaign season officially underway, political activity is expected to intensify across the country in the coming months.
Parties will now seek to mobilise supporters, strengthen grassroots structures, sell their manifestos and convince undecided voters ahead of the January 2027 presidential poll.
The election is expected to be one of Nigeria’s most closely watched political contests, with the outcome set to determine the country’s direction for the next four years.