The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Inec

  • INEC Rules Out Postponement Of 2027 General Elections

    INEC Rules Out Postponement Of 2027 General Elections

    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.

  • Court Orders INEC To Replace Uzodinma With Okorocha As APC Imo West Candidate

    Court Orders INEC To Replace Uzodinma With Okorocha As APC Imo West Candidate

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District in the 2027 general election.

    The court directed the electoral commission to replace Uzodinma’s name with that of former Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha, ruling that Okorocha won the party’s senatorial primary held on May 18.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu delivered the judgment on Thursday after considering the dispute over the outcome of the APC primary election.

    The judge held that the evidence presented before the court showed that Okorocha secured the majority of votes cast during the exercise.

    Egwuatu consequently ordered the APC to submit Okorocha’s name to INEC as its candidate for the Imo West Senatorial District election.

    The ruling followed a legal battle initiated by Okorocha, who challenged INEC’s recognition of Uzodinma as the APC’s candidate for the 2027 election.

    In the suit, the former governor argued that the electoral commission should recognise him as the rightful winner of the primary and publish his name accordingly.

    Uzodinma, the APC and INEC opposed the suit. The governor and the party had asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that it was filed outside the 14-day period allowed by law for pre-election matters.

    The dispute centred on conflicting claims over the primary election results and the validity of Uzodinma’s nomination.

    The court’s order places Okorocha in line to represent the APC in the contest for the Imo West Senate seat, subject to the implementation of the judgment and any further legal developments.

  • 2027 Elections: Reps Summon INEC Chairman As ADC Alleges Plot To Shift Polls

    2027 Elections: Reps Summon INEC Chairman As ADC Alleges Plot To Shift Polls

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The House of Representatives has directed the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, to brief its Committee on Electoral Matters on preparations for the 2027 general elections, amid concerns over insecurity, voter registration and the possibility of disenfranchisement.

    The development comes as the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council alleges a plot to postpone the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, warning President Bola Tinubu against using the Ebola outbreak as a reason to change the electoral timetable.

    INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are slated for February 6.

    At Wednesday’s plenary, lawmakers asked Amupitan to appear before the committee within seven legislative days to provide a detailed update on the commission’s readiness for the polls.

    The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by the House Minority Whip, Mansur Soro, and Deputy Minority Leader, Abdulsamad Dasuki.

    The committee is expected to examine the progress of continuous voter registration, the production and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards, election logistics, the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, as well as the training of electoral officials.

    Lawmakers also want INEC to explain its security arrangements, funding requirements and the challenges that could affect the implementation of the election timetable. The committee will also review lessons from recent governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

    Presenting the motion, Soro said the credibility and public acceptance of the 2027 elections would depend on adequate preparations in voter registration, public education, logistics, technology, security coordination and funding.

    He also expressed concern over reported difficulties at voter registration centres, including inadequate equipment and personnel, network failures and long waiting times.

    According to the lawmaker, these challenges could disproportionately affect first-time voters, rural residents, students, workers and persons with disabilities if urgent measures were not taken.

    Dasuki said persistent insecurity posed another threat to electoral participation, questioning how eligible voters in affected communities would access polling units and exercise their rights.

    He disclosed that lawmakers had sponsored about 255 motions on insecurity, arguing that the situation required INEC to explain how it would conduct elections in areas facing security challenges.

    The motion initially proposed that the INEC chairman address the entire House. However, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu argued that the responsibility should be handled by the Committee on Electoral Matters.

    Kalu said the committee was constitutionally responsible for overseeing the commission and was capable of conducting the necessary scrutiny.

    Speaker Tajudeen Abbas subsequently clarified that lawmakers supported the engagement but wanted it conducted at committee level. He directed the committee to publicise the date of the meeting to allow interested lawmakers to participate.

    Meanwhile, the ADC Presidential Campaign Council has alleged that there is a plan to postpone the January 16 presidential election, claiming that Amupitan could be summoned to the Presidential Villa and pressured to change the date. The council did not provide evidence to substantiate the allegation.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday by its Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, the council urged the INEC chairman to resist any pressure to alter the timetable.

    The opposition group maintained that the election date should not be changed through private arrangements and challenged Tinubu to seek another term through the ballot box.

    The council said Nigerians should be allowed to assess the administration’s performance at the polls, citing economic hardship, rising prices and declining purchasing power.

    Although it acknowledged the seriousness of the Ebola threat, the ADC campaign council argued that public health concerns should be addressed through appropriate safety measures rather than used as a political justification for postponing the election.

    It urged INEC to protect voters and election workers while maintaining the published timetable. It also called on domestic and international election observers to scrutinise any proposal to change the dates.

    The Federal Government, through the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has said there is no plan to suspend election campaigns because of the Ebola incident.

    The All Progressives Congress began its nationwide campaign in Kaduna on October 24, while the ADC is scheduled to commence its campaign in Sokoto on October 31.

    The House committee’s engagement with INEC is expected to provide lawmakers with a clearer picture of the commission’s preparations and the challenges that could affect the conduct of the 2027 elections.

  • INEC To Release Revised 2027 Election Candidates’ List

    INEC To Release Revised 2027 Election Candidates’ List

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to release a revised list of candidates for the 2027 general elections following a review prompted by complaints from stakeholders.

    INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking with journalists in Gombe during an interactive session with commission staff from the North-East zone.

    He said the review was necessary to correct errors in candidates’ details, including misspelt names and cases involving double nominations.

    According to Amupitan, the commission allowed a maximum of 14 days to examine the complaints before publishing the updated list.

    He explained that errors could occur in published candidates’ lists, making it necessary for the commission to address reported discrepancies before releasing the revised version.

    The chairman said the review process had been concluded and the updated list would be made public soon.

    The development comes as INEC intensifies preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the commission seeking to ensure the accuracy of candidates’ information ahead of the polls.

  • INEC Says Preliminary Voters’ Register Available at Wards, Not Online

    INEC Says Preliminary Voters’ Register Available at Wards, Not Online

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has confirmed that the preliminary voters’ register is available for public inspection at registration areas across the country but has yet to be uploaded to its official website.

    INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this during an interview with journalists on Sunday.

    “The voter register has been published, but in the wards. It just wasn’t published on our website,” Haruna said.

    The clarification follows concerns over the commission’s failure to make the register accessible online during the scheduled display period, raising questions about voters’ ability to verify their details ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar had urged INEC to publish the preliminary register immediately, warning that its unavailability could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

    In a statement issued on Thursday, Atiku faulted the commission for failing to provide online access to the register during the October 9 to 15, 2026, display period.

    He argued that voters needed to inspect the register to confirm their information, identify omissions and challenge questionable entries.

    Atiku also criticised INEC for announcing that the number of registered voters had exceeded 103 million without making the detailed list available online for public scrutiny.

    The controversy has renewed attention to the legal requirements governing the publication and display of the voters’ register before elections.

    Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026 requires INEC to make copies of the register available for public scrutiny at registration areas and on its official website for seven days, within the period prescribed by law.

    The provision states that the commission must appoint a seven-day period, not later than 90 days before a general election, for displaying or publishing the register for each local government, area council or ward.

    The exercise is intended to give registered voters an opportunity to verify their details and enable the public to identify errors, omissions or questionable entries before the register is finalised.

    With the 2027 elections approaching, access to the preliminary voters’ register remains central to concerns about electoral transparency, voter participation and public trust in the electoral process.

  • 2027: Atiku Demands Publication of 103m Voters’ Register

    2027: Atiku Demands Publication of 103m Voters’ Register

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish the preliminary voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general election, warning that failure to make the list accessible could erode public confidence in the electoral process.

    Atiku made the demand in a statement issued on Thursday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the African Democratic Congress Presidential Campaign Council.

    He said voters should be allowed to inspect the register, challenge questionable entries and correct omissions before the election.

    INEC had announced that the preliminary register, containing more than 103 million registered voters, would be available for public scrutiny from October 9 to 15. The exercise was intended to enable voters to report false entries and missing names.

    However, Atiku alleged that the register was not accessible on the commission’s online portal during the period.

    “INEC has announced more than 103 million registered voters. Nigerians went to its portal to inspect the names and found an empty page. That is an outrage. A figure cannot answer an objection,” he said.

    The former vice-president argued that the alleged failure to publish the list violated Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which he cited as requiring the register to be displayed at registration areas and online.

    He called on INEC to release the register by local government, area council and ward, while providing voters with a full opportunity to identify and correct errors.

    Atiku also questioned what he described as conflicting statements from the commission’s chairman concerning the timing of the public display.

    He said the chairman reportedly stated on October 5 that the exercise had already been completed, while INEC subsequently announced October 9 to 15 as the period for public scrutiny.

    “Which statement is true? Where was the register published? For seven full days, or for no days at all?” he asked.

    Atiku further requested that INEC disclose the dates, links and access records relating to the reported online publication of the register.

    Beyond the voters’ list, he raised concerns about the authentication of ballot papers, citing Section 63(2) of the Electoral Act 2026. The provision, as referenced in his statement, allows a returning officer to count a ballot paper without the commission’s official mark if satisfied that it came from a book supplied to the polling unit.

    He questioned how such a determination would be verified and challenged, urging INEC to establish safeguards against counterfeit ballot papers.

    “INEC must set out enforceable safeguards against counterfeit ballots, and the National Assembly must close any loophole that leaves the authenticity of a vote to an officer’s unsupported assurance,” he said.

    The statement also alleged that INEC had not responded to inquiries about companies awarded contracts to print sensitive election materials.

    Atiku maintained that the ADC and its presidential candidate were entitled to information about the procedures and safeguards that would determine the credibility of the 2027 presidential election.

    He accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of expecting Nigerians to trust an electoral process without adequate access to the voters’ register.

    The former vice-president warned that preventing voters from examining the list could make it difficult to determine whether names had been improperly added or removed.

    He called on international partners, election observers and democratic institutions to urge INEC to make the register available before election day.

    “Transparency before the vote is as essential as scrutiny of the results afterwards,” Atiku said, insisting that voters must be able to confirm their registration details and challenge irregularities.

    He urged the commission to publish the register, clarify the dates of the public display and provide answers to concerns about ballot-paper authentication.

  • SERAP Sues INEC Over Alleged N126.46bn Electoral Fund Irregularities

    SERAP Sues INEC Over Alleged N126.46bn Electoral Fund Irregularities

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has filed a lawsuit against the Independent National Electoral Commission at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking details of the expenditure of more than N126.46bn allocated for electoral operations.

    The organisation is asking the court to compel INEC to disclose how the funds were released, spent and disbursed, including the identities of contractors, suppliers and beneficiaries, as well as the beneficial owners of the companies involved.

    The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2507/2026, followed allegations contained in the 2023 audited report of the Auditor-General of the Federation, published on August 7, 2026.

    According to SERAP, the report identified several transactions involving alleged breaches of procurement rules and insufficient evidence that goods and services paid for had been delivered.

    The case was filed by SERAP’s lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi and Andrew Nwankwo.

    The organisation said the allegations raised serious questions about the management of public funds by an institution constitutionally responsible for conducting elections.

    “Electoral resources are public resources. INEC must be able to account for every naira, demonstrate that it was lawfully spent and show that it served the purposes for which it was appropriated,” SERAP stated.

    One of the major transactions highlighted in the suit involved N112.16bn allegedly paid for ballot boxes, electoral devices and other election materials without competitive bidding or a certificate of no objection from the Bureau of Public Procurement.

    SERAP quoted the Auditor-General as saying there was no evidence that the items had been procured and that the contracts were awarded to companies whose competence, experience, capacity, addresses and factory locations were unknown.

    The audit report reportedly raised concerns that the funds might have been diverted and recommended their recovery.

    The organisation also cited an alleged payment of N1.06bn for Toyota Prado TXL 2021 model vehicles, claiming the procurement was conducted without advertisement, competitive bidding, bid evaluation or the required certificate from the procurement bureau.

    According to SERAP, the Auditor-General questioned whether the transaction involved inflated contract costs or a possible loss of public funds.

    Another transaction involved N3.14bn allegedly paid to four contractors for ballot guides, sensitive materials and result sheets before the contracts were awarded.

    SERAP said the audit report recommended recovering the money and remitting it to the Treasury over concerns that the funds might have been diverted.

    The lawsuit further identified N9.25bn allegedly paid under 22 contracts for similar goods and services. The contracts were reportedly awarded on the same day and allegedly divided to circumvent procurement procedures.

    The organisation said the Auditor-General questioned whether payments had been made for items that were never supplied.

    SERAP also cited an alleged N129.38m payment to 19 accounting firms for financial audit services, stating that the report found no evidence of the utilisation, requests or expenditure associated with the consultants.

    Other transactions highlighted in the suit included N504.49m allegedly paid for accreditation devices and N235.10m for sleeping mats and digital archiving services.

    Regarding the accreditation devices, SERAP said the Auditor-General questioned whether the expenditure represented value for money because the APG had expired before the security licence key was delivered, while the software was valid for only four months.

    The payment for sleeping mats and digital archiving services also reportedly raised concerns about the eligibility and capacity of the contractors involved.

    SERAP is asking the court to direct INEC to provide documentary and physical evidence showing that the electoral materials covered by the audit findings were procured and delivered.

    It also wants the commission to disclose the current location and status of the materials and explain whether the payments corresponded with actual deliveries.

    The organisation further seeks an order preventing the disposal, transfer, destruction, write-off or other handling of electoral equipment and public assets covered by the allegations in a manner that could undermine accountability.

    It is also requesting the publication of the names of contractors, suppliers and consultants who received the payments, alongside details of public officials who authorised or facilitated the transactions or benefited from them.

    SERAP argued that Nigerians were entitled to information about the use of public funds, particularly those allocated to an institution responsible for managing the country’s electoral process.

    The organisation cited Sections 13 and 15(5) of the 1999 Constitution, which address the responsibilities of public institutions and the obligation of the state to abolish corrupt practices and abuse of power.

    It also referenced Nigeria’s obligations under the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

    SERAP maintained that transparency in electoral spending was particularly important as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.

    “With the 2027 general elections approaching, transparency and accountability in the management of these funds are essential to safeguarding public confidence in the electoral process and ensuring that resources intended to support credible elections are properly utilised,” it stated.

    The allegations contained in the audit report have not, in the information provided, been established by a court, and the suit seeks to compel INEC to account for the transactions.

    No date has been fixed for the hearing.

  • Tinubu Nominates Six INEC Officials, Seeks Senate Confirmation Ahead Of 2027 Polls

    Tinubu Nominates Six INEC Officials, Seeks Senate Confirmation Ahead Of 2027 Polls

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    President Bola Tinubu has nominated six officials for positions at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including four national commissioners and two Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The nominations were announced on Friday by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy.

    Tinubu has forwarded the nominees’ names to the Senate for screening and confirmation, urging lawmakers to expedite the process ahead of the elections. He also reappointed Dr Bala Bila as the national commissioner representing the North-East.

    Among the nominees, Professor Mustapha Aliu is expected to replace Professor Abdullahi Zuru as the national commissioner representing the North-West, while Bashir Muhammed Umar has been nominated to succeed Professor Muhammad Adamu as the North-Central representative.

    The President also nominated Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, the current Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun State, as the national commissioner representing the South-West. She is expected to replace Professor Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure ends on October 24, 2026.

    For the two REC positions, Tinubu nominated retired permanent secretary Dr Samuel Akinjide Akinleye to represent Ekiti State and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi from Jigawa State to replace Professor Saidu Ahmed Babura.

    The appointments come as INEC steps up preparations for the 2027 general elections. Under the commission’s revised timetable, presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.

    INEC is also planning to deploy more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel for the elections, mainly from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The figure is higher than the approximately 1.2 million personnel deployed during the 2023 general elections.

    The commission told the National Assembly in February that it would require ₦873.78 billion to conduct the 2027 elections, in addition to ₦171 billion for its routine operations in 2026. The proposed election budget is significantly higher than the ₦313.4 billion released for the 2023 polls.

    As part of its preparations, INEC is developing a real-time election readiness tracker to monitor activities across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    The system is expected to provide updates on logistics, recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, technology deployment and other election-related operations, helping the commission identify gaps before election day.

  • INEC Inaugurates Logistics Committee Ahead Of 2027 Election

    INEC Inaugurates Logistics Committee Ahead Of 2027 Election

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to inaugurate its logistics committee for the 2027 general elections on Thursday in Abuja.

    The inauguration will be followed by an inaugural meeting between the commission’s leadership and members of the committee at INEC’s headquarters.

    The committee is expected to coordinate logistics and distribution arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the forthcoming elections.

    Its membership includes representatives of transport and maritime organisations, aviation authorities, security agencies and paramilitary services.

    Among the organisations listed are the Nigeria Road Transport Union, Maritime Workers Union, Nigeria Airport Authority and Road Transport Owners Association. The police, Nigerian Air Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps are also represented.

    INEC is expected to brief members on their responsibilities and outline the measures required to ensure the timely and efficient movement of election materials.

    The initiative forms part of the commission’s preparations to strengthen operational coordination and prevent logistical challenges during the 2027 general elections.

  • INEC Gives Pantami, Adebutu, Others October 24 Deadline To Challenge Omission

    INEC Gives Pantami, Adebutu, Others October 24 Deadline To Challenge Omission

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has given political parties until October 24, 2026, to report alleged errors involving the omission of their candidates from the final list for the 2027 governorship elections.

    The commission said the deadline was based on Section 32(2) of the Electoral Act, 2026, which allows political parties 14 days from the publication of the candidates’ list to notify it of any alleged wrongful exclusion.

    INEC disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Haruna.

    The clarification follows protests by political parties over the omission of several candidates from the final list for the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections.

    Those affected include the Peoples Democratic Party’s governorship candidates in Ogun and Gombe states, Oladipupo Adebutu and Isa Ali Pantami, respectively.

    The Nigeria Democratic Congress governorship candidate in Kano State, Aminu Gwarzo, was also missing from the list. In Jigawa State, the African Democratic Congress protested the exclusion of its endorsed deputy governorship candidate, Aminu Ringim, and several other candidates.

    Some affected parties and candidates have demanded explanations and threatened legal action to secure their inclusion.

    INEC attributed its decision to the Supreme Court judgment delivered on September 24, 2026, in the case of *INEC v. Zenith Labour Party*, which upheld the constitutionality of provisions in the Electoral Act governing party membership registers and candidate nominations.

    According to the commission, the Supreme Court upheld Sections 77(5), 77(6) and 77(7) of the Electoral Act, 2026. The provisions require political parties to submit their membership registers within the stipulated period and use them for primaries, congresses and conventions.

    The electoral body said the court also upheld its timetable requiring parties to submit their membership registers between April 21 and May 10, 2026.

    INEC added that the judgment established that parties which failed to comply with the membership-register requirements were ineligible to sponsor candidates for the elections.

    The commission said it applied the ruling when preparing the final governorship candidates’ list, excluding parties that failed to meet the requirements.

    It maintained that the action was consistent with Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which requires relevant authorities to enforce court decisions.

    However, INEC noted that the final lists of presidential and National Assembly candidates had been published on September 12, 2026, before the Supreme Court delivered its judgment.

    The commission urged parties that believe their candidates were wrongly excluded from the governorship list to notify it before the October 24 deadline.

    INEC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law and the credibility of the electoral process ahead of the February 6, 2027, governorship elections.

  • Atiku, ADC Demand INEC Clarification On Ballot Printing Contracts, Staff Transfers

    Atiku, ADC Demand INEC Clarification On Ballot Printing Contracts, Staff Transfers

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress have called on the Independent National Electoral Commission to explain its arrangements for printing sensitive election materials and recent personnel changes ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    Atiku urged the commission to disclose the companies contracted to produce ballot papers and other sensitive materials, while the ADC expressed concern over alleged ethnic bias in the redeployment of staff serving in key departments.

    INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.

    In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku asked INEC to confirm or deny reports that Hitech or an affiliated company had secured a contract to print sensitive materials for the elections.

    The former vice-president said information available to him suggested that more than half of the commission’s sensitive election materials, including presidential ballot papers, might have been assigned to a company reportedly based in France.

    He expressed concern that the identity and credentials of the alleged contractor had not been made public.

    Atiku also questioned reports that the Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Plc would print election materials for only 15 to 17 states, leaving private companies to handle the remaining assignments.

    He urged INEC to publish the names of all contractors, the materials and states allocated to each company, the procurement procedures followed and the security measures governing production, storage and delivery.

    “These reports demand urgent and unequivocal answers. INEC must confirm or deny them and publish the names of every company engaged, the materials and states assigned to each, the procurement method, the security clearances obtained and the safeguards governing production, storage and delivery,” he said.

    Atiku argued that transparency in the production and handling of sensitive election materials was necessary to protect the credibility of the electoral process and prevent public suspicion.

    He also questioned the potential involvement of Hitech or an associated company, citing publicly reported business connections between the Chagoury family, which owns Hitech, and the family of President Bola Tinubu.

    According to Atiku, awarding such a contract to a company with those reported connections could raise concerns about the independence of the electoral commission.

    He maintained that INEC should prioritise qualified domestic security-printing capacity and ensure that every ballot paper, result sheet and other sensitive document could be tracked throughout the production and distribution process.

    The former vice-president extended his call for transparency to the printing of higher-denomination banknotes, urging the Central Bank of Nigeria to disclose its current arrangements and clarify the respective roles of NSPMC and any foreign contractors.

    **Atiku Questions INEC Personnel Changes**

    Atiku also called on INEC to explain recent postings and redeployments involving officials responsible for election administration and technology.

    The statement cited reports that Isa Magaji Gum had been transferred from Electoral Operations to the Voter Registry Department, while Oluyemi Titilayo Adeyemi-Showunmi had been appointed to head Electoral Operations. Dr Lawrence Bayode was identified as the head of Information and Communication Technology.

    Atiku asked the commission to disclose the criteria used in making the appointments and demonstrate that the decisions followed established procedures and were free from political interference.

    “These departments are at the heart of election administration. INEC must explain these decisions, publish the criteria applied and show that every appointment and redeployment followed due process, was based on merit and was free from political interference,” he said.

    However, Atiku cautioned against assuming that any official was compromised because of ethnicity, background or personal associations. He said the commission should address concerns through verifiable information rather than general assurances.

    **ADC Alleges Ethnic Bias In Staff Redeployment**

    Separately, the ADC raised concerns over what it described as a pattern of transfers involving officers from northern states serving in sensitive INEC departments.

    In a statement issued on Sunday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party alleged that some officers working in Electoral Operations and Information and Communication Technology had been moved to other departments and replaced by officials from Lagos and other South-West states.

    The party said it had received complaints and information about the changes, warning that the pattern required an explanation from the commission.

    “We have specific names of officers moved from Electoral Operations and ICT in a number of northern states and replaced with officers from Lagos and other South-West states. INEC may dismiss this as routine. But we have noticed a pattern, especially along ethnic lines, and we are concerned,” the statement read.

    The ADC did not provide the names of the affected officers or documentary evidence to substantiate the allegations in the statement.

    The party said it was not accusing INEC of having a predetermined motive but argued that personnel changes in departments central to election administration should be explained to avoid undermining public confidence.

    It warned that any perception of ethnic or regional preference in appointments to strategic positions could fuel suspicions about the neutrality of the electoral process and allegations of favouritism towards Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress.

    The party urged INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, to publish details of the recent postings, the criteria used to select officers for the positions and the reasons for the changes.

    According to the ADC, disclosure of the information would reassure Nigerians that electoral officials would carry out their responsibilities impartially, regardless of their ethnic, linguistic or regional backgrounds.

    The party warned that failure to address the allegations with evidence-based explanations could damage confidence in the 2027 elections.

    The concerns come as political parties prepare for the next general elections, with INEC facing expectations to demonstrate transparency in its procurement decisions, personnel management and handling of sensitive electoral materials.

  • 2027 Elections: INEC Begins PVC Distribution, Displays Voter Register

    2027 Elections: INEC Begins PVC Distribution, Displays Voter Register

    Precious Nwonu, Enugu

    The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the display of the preliminary register of voters and distribution of Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The exercise, which runs from October 9 to 15, 2026, will enable registered voters to verify their details, submit claims and objections, and collect PVCs issued during the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

    In Plateau State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Sam Egwu, said the exercise would take place across all 207 Registration Areas between 9am and 3pm daily, including weekends.

    In a statement issued in Jos on Thursday, Egwu said the exercise was being conducted in line with Section 19(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, which requires INEC to display the voter register at least 90 days before a general election.

    He urged registered voters to check their names, photographs, dates of birth, polling units and other registration details to identify errors and submit necessary claims or objections within the stipulated period.

    The Plateau REC also confirmed that PVCs from the first phase of the registration exercise, conducted between August 18 and December 10, 2025, would be available for collection.

    In Sokoto State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Umar Garba, announced the same seven-day exercise while briefing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists Press Centre.

    Garba said the commission was committed to ensuring that eligible voters had the opportunity to verify their registration information and obtain their cards.

    However, he clarified that PVCs relating to lost or damaged cards, transfers, updates and registrations completed during the second and third phases of the CVR were not yet available. He said INEC would announce when those cards could be collected.

    According to him, PVC distribution would continue at INEC offices across Sokoto’s 23 local government areas after the Registration Area exercise ends on October 15.

    Garba explained that the extension to local government offices would provide another opportunity for eligible voters who could not collect their cards at the Registration Area centres.

    On security, the REC said INEC had worked closely with security agencies throughout the recent voter registration exercise, adding that their advice helped ensure the process was completed without casualties.

    He also disclosed that the commission was consulting security agencies to determine the number of internally displaced persons in Sokoto State and establish arrangements for their participation in the 2027 elections.

    Garba said INEC was working to ensure that eligible displaced persons in officially recognised camps could exercise their voting rights.

    He added that the commission would announce the total number of registered voters in Sokoto State in due course.