The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has successfully executed nine out of the 14 critical statutory tasks outlined in its revised schedule for the upcoming 2027 general elections. INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan announced this milestone in Abuja while receiving a pre-election fact-finding mission from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The high-level ECOWAS delegation was led by former Sierra Leonean Vice- President Victor Bockarie Foh and co-led by Dr Abbas Chernor Bundu, former Executive Secretary of ECOWAS and former Speaker of the Sierra Leonean Parliament. The visiting team aimed to evaluate the electoral body's operational preparedness ahead of the polls.
Amupitan confirmed that the completed milestones include three consecutive phases of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise alongside the nationwide physical exhibition of the preliminary voter register. Furthermore, the commission has uploaded the preliminary voter list to a dedicated digital portal, giving citizens an opportunity to review details, file objections, and make claims ahead of the official final register certification slated for December 15, 2026.
According to the electoral chief, the National Register of Voters has now exceeded 103 million citizens. The nationwide polls will span across the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, 774 local government areas, 8,809 registration areas, and 176,846 polling units. Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, followed by the governorship and state assembly elections on February 6, 2027.
What measures are being taken to ensure operational readiness?
To guarantee seamless field operations, Amupitan noted that the commission embarked on zonal readiness assessment tours covering Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. Evaluations have already been concluded across the South- West, North-West, South-East, and North-East, with the South-South review scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. These inspections allow leadership to evaluate local infrastructure, engage field electoral officers, and consult traditional stakeholders directly.
Regarding electoral technology, the commission will deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) for comprehensive fingerprint and facial verification. Transparency in vote collation will be reinforced through electronic result management systems, including the newly introduced eEC8A electronic verification platform and the established INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for public scrutiny of polling unit results.
How is staff welfare and security being handled?
Amupitan highlighted that staff welfare has received a boost through the approval of the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS) alongside a 150 percent increase in state operational overhead funds. However, he issued a stern warning that the electoral board will not condone administrative incompetence, extortion, or political bias among its workforce.
To safeguard the electoral environment, INEC is collaborating with security institutions via the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). Utilizing an intelligence-driven framework known as the ICCES Tentacle, the security arrangement seeks to protect polling stations, safeguard electoral personnel—including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC)—and ensure unhindered access for persons with disabilities.
Speaking earlier, head of the ECOWAS delegation Victor Bockarie Foh stressed the importance of strict adherence to electoral guidelines and proactive stakeholder engagement to guarantee a credible democratic process.