Precious Nwonu, Enugu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out any possibility of postponing the 2027 general elections, declaring that the polls will take place according to the timetable already released by the commission.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance on Saturday during an interactive meeting with commission officials and Resident Electoral Commissioners from the six South-South states in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
He also announced that the commission would publish the final voters’ register on December 15, 2026, after completing the ongoing verification and correction process.
Amupitan said INEC would not alter its statutory schedule despite suggestions by some political parties that the elections could be shifted.
“Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled,” he said.
The INEC chairman disclosed that Rivers State would receive particular attention during the preparations because of its large voting population and strategic importance.
According to him, Rivers has 3,736,434 registered voters, the highest number in the South-South region. Delta follows with 3,525,988, while Edo has 2,865,263.
Akwa Ibom has 2,566,198 registered voters, Cross River 1,928,978 and Bayelsa 1,200,691.
He urged electoral officials to ensure that logistical and operational challenges did not prevent eligible voters from exercising their rights, particularly in states with large voter populations.
On the ongoing voters’ register review, Amupitan said the preliminary register had been made available online and at designated centres to enable voters to confirm their details and submit objections where necessary.
He disclosed that INEC had received more than 5,000 requests for corrections, including changes to names and dates of birth, as well as over 600 objections. The requests are being processed before the final register is released.
The chairman also revealed that INEC had considered a fresh voter revalidation exercise after he assumed office but dropped the plan because of concerns that the exercise would be too close to the general elections.
Speaking on the commission’s preparedness, Amupitan expressed confidence that INEC would deliver peaceful, transparent and credible elections, drawing lessons from recent off-cycle governorship polls, particularly the Osun State election.
He described the Osun poll as the most participatory off-cycle governorship election in the country’s history, saying it was considered credible by local and international observers despite earlier security concerns.
According to him, the experience from recent elections would help the commission address challenges and strengthen its preparations for 2027.
“We will conduct elections that will move the nation forward and not an election that will bring it down,” he said.
On security, Amupitan said INEC was working with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, to protect voters, electoral workers, ad hoc personnel and election materials.
He stressed that voters must be able to collect their Permanent Voter Cards and exercise their franchise in a safe environment.
The chairman also dismissed suggestions that artificial intelligence or computer algorithms could determine the outcome of the elections, insisting that the choice of winners would remain with Nigerian voters.
“It is the people of Nigeria that will decide the outcome of the elections and not AI or any algorithms,” he said.
However, he acknowledged the cybersecurity risks associated with emerging technologies and said the commission would explore ways to use technology to protect its digital systems from possible attacks.
Amupitan warned INEC employees and ad hoc staff, including members of the National Youth Service Corps, against actions capable of undermining the electoral process.
He said officials found compromising the integrity of the elections would face legal consequences, urging personnel in the South-South to discharge their duties responsibly.
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