The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians of its full readiness for the 2027 General Election despite delays in the passage of the amended Electoral Act at the National Assembly.
INEC chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), stated this on Wednesday at the Commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations in Abuja.
The Commission said it has already finalised its election timetable and schedule of activities in line with existing legal provisions.
Amupitan explained that while INEC has submitted its recommendations to the National Assembly, the timing and content of the amended Act could affect some aspects of the election schedule.
“While we have made our submissions to the National Assembly, the passage of the amendment may have implications for certain items in our timetable. However, for now, the Commission has no choice but to operate within the framework of the subsisting Electoral Act,” he said.
At the meeting, the INEC chairman also called on CSOs to intensify efforts to mobilise residents of the Federal Capital Territory to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
“The ongoing PVC distribution in the FCT will end on 10th February 2026, and we do not want anyone to be disenfranchised. As partners, we urge you to help mobilise FCT residents to go out and collect their PVCs,” he said.
Beyond PVC collection, Amupitan urged CSOs to help monitor political parties’ conduct during campaigns and promote peaceful participation.
“Let’s work together to monitor the activities of the political parties, especially their campaigns and general conduct in the election. Let’s sensitise the public, particularly party members, to refrain from hate speech, vote buying, misinformation, disinformation and violence, and to conduct their activities strictly within the framework of the law,” he added.
Providing an update on preparations, Amupitan said the FCT Area Council elections would involve 1,680,315 registered voters across 2,822 polling units in Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.
“A total of 570 candidates will contest the chairmanship, vice-chairmanship and councillorship positions,” he said.
According to him, INEC has delivered and batched non-sensitive materials at Area Council offices, concluded recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, and is configuring BVAS devices for accreditation and upload of results to the IReV portal.
He said sensitive materials would be delivered a day before the polls.
He announced a mock accreditation exercise scheduled for Saturday, February 7, in 289 selected polling units across the six Area Councils, adding that 83 domestic and five foreign observer groups had been accredited to monitor the FCT elections.
Amupitan also confirmed that bye-elections would hold the same day in Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies in Rivers State, as well as in Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies in Kano State.
In Rivers State, he said 41,085 registered voters would vote in Ahoada East II across 87 polling units in six wards, while 71,865 voters would cast their ballots in Khana II across 155 polling units in eight wards.
In Kano State, he said 330,228 registered voters would vote in Kano Municipal constituency across 630 polling units in 13 wards, while 205,418 voters would participate in the Ungogo constituency poll across 384 polling units in 11 wards. Ten political parties, he noted, are participating in both bye-elections.
Looking ahead to 2027, Amupitan urged the National Assembly to speed up work on the Electoral Act amendment.
“We seek your support in urging the National Assembly to expedite action on the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act,” he said.
He also announced plans for a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election to strengthen the integrity of the voters’ register.
“A credible register of voters remains the bedrock of free, fair and transparent elections. Accordingly, the Commission will be embarking on a nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election,” Amupitan said.
