…Orders nationwide voter register clean-up; flags Electoral Act delay
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has concluded preparations for the 2027 General Election timetable and schedule of activities, even as it raised concerns over delays in amending the Electoral Act and announced plans for a nationwide voter verification and revalidation exercise to strengthen electoral credibility.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during a consultative engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), marking the start of intensive preparations for upcoming elections, including the 2027 polls.
Amupitan said the Commission has finalised the election timetable, and is now awaiting legislative action on the proposed amendments to the Electoral Act currently before the 10th National Assembly. He, however, warned that the timing of the amendment could affect certain aspects of the schedule.
“While we have completed work on the timetable, some activities may require adjustment, depending on when the amended Electoral Act is passed and signed into law”, he clarified, adding that INEC would continue to operate within the existing legal framework until the amendment process is concluded.
Describing 2026 as a demanding electoral year, the INEC chairman cautioned that prolonged delays in amending the law could complicate early planning and smooth execution of election activities. He stressed that safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy would require collective action by all stakeholders to address both legal and administrative gaps ahead of 2027.
As part of efforts to boost public confidence in the electoral process, Amupitan announced that INEC would conduct a nationwide voter verification and revalidation exercise. The move followed a review of the Anambra State off-cycle governorship election held in November, which revealed a significant disparity between registered voters and actual turnout.
According to him, Anambra had over 2.9 million registered voters, but only about 600,000 participated in the election—roughly 20%. A subsequent review of the voters’ register, he said, uncovered the names of deceased persons, including prominent politicians, still listed as eligible voters. “The presence of deceased persons on the register impacts its integrity. We do not expect the dead to come from the grave to vote”, Amupitan said.
He explained that the planned exercise would focus on removing deceased voters, eliminating duplicate entries, correcting data errors, and identifying ineligible registrations such as under-age voters and non-citizens, in collaboration with relevant government agencies. He noted that a credible and up-to-date voters’ register remains the foundation of public trust in elections.
Providing further updates, Amupitan disclosed that over 2.78 million eligible Nigerians were registered during the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, while the second phase would continue until April 2026. He also revealed that INEC had received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties, with successful applicants to be announced in due course.
Responding on behalf of civil society groups, Grace Alache Jerry reaffirmed CSOs’ commitment to supporting INEC through voter education, election observation and peace advocacy. She, however, echoed concerns over delays in amending the Electoral Act, warning that failure to conclude the process early could pose challenges for the 2027 General Election.
INEC also urged CSOs to intensify voter mobilisation, particularly encouraging eligible Nigerians to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, while supporting campaigns against hate speech, vote-buying and electoral violence, as part of efforts to deliver credible and peaceful elections in 2027.
