INEC Begins Movement of Election Materials as 2027 Preparations Gather Pace

Jane Salihu

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has commenced the distribution of non-sensitive election materials to some geopolitical zones as preparations for the 2027 general elections move into an advanced operational phase.

National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, disclosed this on Thursday while receiving a delegation from Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), led by the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Isaac Keen Parashina, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

Gumus, who represented INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said the Commission had completed nine scheduled preparatory activities and was intensifying efforts to meet other milestones ahead of the elections.

She explained that the INEC chairman had recently concluded a tour of the country’s six geopolitical zones to assess their level of preparedness, identify operational challenges and determine areas requiring attention.

According to her, the assessment showed that the Commission was making steady progress towards the elections, with some non-sensitive materials already being transported to designated zones.

“Right now, all non-sensitive materials are almost ready. In fact, today, as we speak here, the non-sensitive materials have been lifted to some zones,” she said.

The National Commissioner also disclosed that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been produced, with most states receiving the first and second batches, while collection by registered voters was ongoing.

She urged eligible voters to collect their PVCs ahead of the elections, describing possession of the cards as an important requirement for participation in the voting process.

Gumus further said the Commission had commenced capacity-building programmes for its personnel at the national headquarters and state offices, while procurement and deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices were ongoing.

On the possibility of introducing diaspora voting in Nigeria, she explained that the current Electoral Act did not provide for it, stressing that INEC could not implement the arrangement without the necessary amendment to the law.

She said the Commission had organised an interactive session between its directors and the visiting Kenyan delegation to enable the visitors to understand its operational structures, departmental responsibilities and electoral processes.

Earlier, the Kenyan High Commissioner, Isaac Keen Parashina, said the delegation’s visit was part of efforts to strengthen electoral cooperation between both countries ahead of Kenya’s August 2027 general elections.

He noted that although Nigeria and Kenya differed in geographical size and population, both countries faced similar electoral challenges and could benefit from sharing experiences and best practices.

Parashina described Nigeria’s electoral success as important to the wider African continent, noting that the country remained the largest democracy in Africa.

He explained that the IEBC delegation was particularly interested in understanding how Nigeria manages voting arrangements for citizens living outside the country and other special interest groups.

According to him, Kenya currently allows its citizens in about 12 countries to participate in its elections, with plans to expand the arrangement to approximately 26 countries ahead of the next general elections.

He said the expansion was informed by constitutional provisions and court rulings requiring the progressive extension of voting rights to Kenyans living abroad.

The High Commissioner expressed appreciation to INEC for receiving the delegation despite the Commission’s demanding preparations for the 2027 elections, adding that Kenya looked forward to strengthening its working relationship with Nigeria’s electoral body.

Nigeria’s 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027. Kenya is scheduled to conduct its general elections in August 2027.