The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 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.
Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), INEC chairman, revealed this on Wednesday during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organizations in Abuja.
The Commission stated that it has already finalized its election schedule and actions in accordance with existing legal provisions.
Amupitan explained that, while INEC has presented recommendations to the National Assembly, the timing and content of the modified act may have an impact on certain areas of the election calendar.
“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 urged CSOs to step up efforts to mobilize Federal Capital Territory residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the Area Council elections on 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 mobilize FCT residents to go out and collect their PVCs,” he said.
At the meeting, the INEC chairman also urged CSOs to step up efforts to mobilize Federal Capital Territory residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the Area Council elections on Saturday, February 21, 2026.
“Let’s work together to monitor the activities of the political parties, especially their campaigns and general conduct in the election. Let’s sensitize 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.
Giving 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 documents to Area Council offices, completed the recruiting and training of ad hoc workers, and is setting BVAS devices for accreditation and results upload to the IReV portal.
He stated that sensitive materials would be supplied a day before the polls.
He announced a mock accreditation exercise for Saturday, February 7, in 289 selected voting units across the six Area Councils, and confirmed that 83 domestic and five foreign observer groups had been accredited to monitor the FCT elections.
Amupitan also stated that bye-elections would be held on the same day in Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies in Rivers State, as well as Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies in Kano State.
In Rivers State, he stated that 41,085 registered voters would vote in Ahoada East II across 87 polling units in six wards, and 71,865 electors would vote in Khana II across 155 polling units in eight wards.
In Kano State, he stated that 330,228 registered voters would vote in the Kano Municipal Constituency across 630 polling units in 13 wards, while 205,418 electors would vote in the Ungogo Constituency across 384 polling units in 11 wards. He stated that ten political parties are taking part in both byelections.
Looking ahead to 2027, Amupitan asked the National Assembly to accelerate work on the Electoral Act revision.
“We seek your support in urging the National Assembly to expedite action on the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act,” the speaker added.
He also announced preparations for a nationwide voter revalidation effort ahead of the 2027 General Election to ensure the integrity of the voter roll.
“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.
