The Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians that it is fully prepared for the 2027 General Election despite delays in passing the amended Electoral Act at the National Assembly.
This was said on Wednesday during the Commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organizations in Abuja by INEC chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN).
According to the Commission, it has already finalized its election schedule and activity schedule in accordance with current legal provision.
Although INEC has presented its recommendations to the National Assembly, Amupitan clarified that certain elements of the election calendar may be impacted by the timing and content of the amended Act.
“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.
The INEC chairman also urged CSOs to step up their efforts to encourage Federal Capital Territory citizens to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards in advance of the Area Council elections, which are set 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 mobilize FCT residents to go out and collect their PVCs,” he said.
In addition to collecting PVC, Amupitan asked CSOs to support peaceful participation and assist in keeping an eye on political parties’ conduct during campaigns.
“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.
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.
He claims that INEC has completed hiring and training ad hoc staff, supplied and batched non-sensitive materials to Area Council offices, and is setting up BVAS devices for accreditation and uploading results to the IReV portal.
Sensitive materials will be sent a day before the elections, he said.
In addition to announcing that 83 domestic and five foreign observer groups had been accredited to oversee the FCT elections, he also announced a mock accreditation exercise that will take place in 289 selected polling unit throughout the six Area Councils on Saturday, February 7.
Additionally, Amupitan stated that bye-elections would take place in the Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies in Kano State, as well as in the Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies in Rivers State, on the same day.
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.
Amupitan asked the National Assembly to expedite the Electoral Act amendment in order to meet the 2027 deadline.
“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 re-validation process prior to the 2027 general election in order to improve the integrity of the voter 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 Re-validation Exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election,” Amupitan said.
