West Africa · ECOWAS
ECOWAS electoral calendar. Sources: national electoral commissions, ECOWAS, AU, EISA.
Electoral timeline 2024–2027
Election dates are subject to change. Always verify with the official electoral commission of each country before making decisions.
Upcoming & scheduled
Gambia
Presidential
Dec 5, 2026
ScheduledIEC: presidential election set for 5 Dec 2026. Barrow seeking a third term.
Guinea-Bissau
Presidential + Legislative
Dec 6, 2026
ScheduledJunta decree (Jan 2026): polls set for 6 Dec 2026. Transitional charter bars Horta N'Tam from running. ECOWAS engagement ongoing.
Nigeria
General (Presidential + NASS)
Jan 16, 2027
ScheduledINEC revised timetable (Feb 2026): Pres + NASS on 16 Jan 2027; governorship/state assemblies 6 Feb 2027. Electoral Act 2026.
Sierra Leone
Presidential + Parliament
2028 (est.)
IndicativeNext multi-tier polls in 2028 — fixed Nov date under discussion; verify NEC.
Ghana
General
Dec 2028 (est.)
Indicative4-year cycle. Mahama ineligible for a further term (two-term limit).
Junta states — no confirmed timeline
Burkina Faso
Civilian transition
TBD
No timelineJunta (Traoré) — no transition date. AES bloc.
Mali
Civilian transition
TBD
No timelineJunta (Goïta) has not published transition timeline. AES bloc.
Niger
Civilian transition
TBD
No timelineFeb 2025 charter: ~5-year transition (extendable). No election day published by CENI.
Recently completed
Cabo Verde
National Assembly
May 17, 2026
CompletedPAICV 37/72 seats (48.04%, CNE final). MpD 33, UCID 2. Carvalho sworn in as PM 19 Jun 2026.
Benin
Presidential
Apr 12, 2026
CompletedWadagni (Talon's successor) won 94.27%. No credible opposition on ballot. ECOWAS observers: not free nor fair.
Benin
National Assembly
Jan 11, 2026
CompletedUPR 60 seats + Republican Bloc 49 seats. Opposition (Democrats) shut out — failed 20% threshold. Turnout 36.7%.
Guinea
Presidential
Dec 28, 2025
CompletedDoumbouya elected with 86.72% (Supreme Court final). Sworn in 17 Jan 2026. 7-year term under 2025 constitution.
Côte d'Ivoire
Legislative
Dec 27, 2025
CompletedCEI: RHDP 197 seats, PDCI-RDA 32, independents 23; turnout 35.04%. Two constituencies re-run 21 Feb 2026 (PDCI Toumodi; independent Dualla-Massala). No Jul 2026 national poll.
Guinea-Bissau
Coup (Nov)
Nov 2025
CompletedMilitary takeover; Horta N'Tam sworn in as transitional president. Nov 2025 election process suspended.
Côte d'Ivoire
Presidential
Oct 25, 2025
CompletedOuattara re-elected (4th term) with 89.77% — Constitutional Council CI-2025-EP-007 (4 Nov 2025). Turnout 50.10%.
Togo
Indirect presidential (post-reform)
May 3, 2025
CompletedSavi de Tové elected ceremonial president by parliament; Gnassingbé heads Council of Ministers under May 2025 parliamentary system.
Ghana
Presidential and Parliament
Dec 7, 2024
CompletedMahama (NDC) elected with 56.55%. Peaceful transition from Akufo-Addo.
Senegal
National Assembly (snap)
Nov 17, 2024
CompletedPastef won 130/165 seats. No new NA election scheduled for mid-2026 — current legislature sits from this snap poll.
Senegal
Presidential
Mar 24, 2024
CompletedFaye (Pastef) elected with 54.3%.
Liberia
Presidential (runoff)
Oct 2023 (runoff)
CompletedBoakai (UP) elected (50.6%).
Niger
Coup
Jul 2023
CompletedTchiani/CNSP seize power July 2023.
Sierra Leone
Presidential
Jun 24, 2023
CompletedBio (SLPP) re-elected — disputed.
Nigeria
Presidential
Feb 25, 2023
CompletedTinubu (APC) elected with ~37% of the vote.
Burkina Faso
Coup (2nd in 8 months)
2022
CompletedTraoré seizes power.
Gambia
Presidential
Dec 4, 2021
CompletedBarrow re-elected (53%).
Mali
Coup (2nd)
2021
CompletedGoïta seizes power — elections postponed.