…as Amupitan orders voter register cleanup, warns RECs against lapses after FCT poll logistics concerns
By Nkechi Eze
The Independent National Electoral Commission has announced plans to revise the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections to comply fully with the provisions of the newly enacted Electoral Act 2026, signaling a significant procedural reset in preparations for Nigeria’s next nationwide polls.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, disclosed the decision on Wednesday during a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, explaining that the Commission had earlier issued a Notice of Election on February 13, 2026, based on the repealed Electoral Act 2022.
He said the emergence of the new law shortly after that announcement made it imperative for the electoral body to adjust its plans in line with the current legal framework.
“We had on 13th February, 2026 issued a Notice of Election before the new Act was enacted. The Notice was issued under the old law. With the introduction of the new Electoral Act, we have to make some adjustments and issue a revised Timetable for the 2027 General Election,” he said.
Amupitan noted that beyond revising the timetable, the Commission would also review its Regulations and Guidelines for the elections, conduct a Voters Revalidation Exercise to strengthen the integrity of the voters’ register, and continue the ongoing second phase of Continuous Voter Registration, which began on January 5 and will end on April 17, 2026, as part of a broader exercise scheduled to conclude on August 30, 2026.
The INEC chairman used the meeting to reflect on recent electoral exercises, including the February 21, 2026 Area Council elections in the Federal Capital Territory and bye-elections in Kano and Rivers states. While he commended the peaceful conduct of the polls and the high rate of result uploads to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, which averaged 97 percent in the FCT exercise, he expressed concern over operational shortcomings, particularly in voter education, punctuality, and logistics.
He directed Resident Electoral Commissioners to intensify voter awareness campaigns in their states, stressing that sensitisation must become a sustained effort rather than a periodic activity.
“I therefore direct all Resident Electoral Commissioners to intensify voter education and sensitisation in your respective states. Voter awareness must not be episodic. It must be continuous. Citizens must be encouraged to verify their polling unit details well ahead of elections,” he said.
Amupitan also issued a strong warning over operational inefficiencies, expressing dissatisfaction with the late commencement of voting in many polling units.
“There will be consequences for any act capable of sabotaging the process and 45 percent opening at 8:30 am is not satisfactory. It fell short of our standards. It undermines public confidence. And it will not be tolerated,” he warned.
Emphasising accountability, he reminded the electoral commissioners of their leadership responsibilities, declaring, “As Resident Electoral Commissioners, you are the Commission in your states. The buck stops with you. You must strengthen supervision, ensure early deployment of personnel and materials, and hold your Electoral Officers accountable. We cannot preach efficiency and practice excuses.”
The meeting also featured the swearing-in of Dr. Chukwu Chukwuemeka Joseph as Resident Electoral Commissioner for Abia State, with the INEC chairman urging him to embrace the Commission’s reform agenda.
In a related development, the Commission received a delegation from the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria, led by its National Chairman, Mamman Nda Eri, who called for closer collaboration between INEC and state electoral bodies in areas such as technology deployment, voter education, capacity building, and research.
Eri commended INEC’s leadership role in advancing electoral transparency and innovation, noting that its reforms and digital initiatives had set important standards for electoral administration across the country.
“INEC has over the years set important benchmarks in electoral administration, institutional reform, and technological innovation. The Commission’s leadership in deploying digital tools, strengthening result transparency, and improving voter confidence continues to provide valuable lessons,” he said.
He added that stronger institutional cooperation would help improve election credibility at all levels and pledged the forum’s commitment to professionalism, transparency, and continuous improvement.
