By Jane Salihu
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced stricter oversight measures and a comprehensive review of its operations ahead of the 2027 General Election, following an assessment of the recently concluded polls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano and Rivers States.
The resolutions emerged from a high-level meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) held on Wednesday at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan commended staff for the largely peaceful conduct of the FCT Area Council election and the bye-elections in Kano Municipal, Ungogo, Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies.
He noted that over 93 per cent of polling unit results were uploaded to the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) by 2:00pm on the Sunday following the polls, rising to an average of 97 per cent transmission for the FCT, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to transparency and prompt result management.
Despite the progress, the Chairman expressed concern over logistical lapses, particularly delays in the opening of polling units in parts of the FCT.
He disclosed that only 45 per cent of polling units opened by 8:30am, though all were operational by 10:00am. Staff found culpable in Kuje Area Council and Kabusa Ward have been queried, while a transporter in Kwali Area Council is to be blacklisted as part of efforts to enforce accountability.
On voter participation, INEC acknowledged that apathy remains a challenge but reported modest improvement in the FCT, where turnout increased from 9.4 per cent in 2022 to about 15 per cent in 2026, translating to more than 239,000 votes cast. The Commission pledged intensified voter education and sensitisation to further boost citizen engagement in future elections.
Addressing allegations of “voter migration,”
Prof. Amupitan clarified that no voter was relocated in 2026, explaining that the only redistribution occurred in 2022 during the expansion of polling units nationwide, saying the exercise, which increased polling units from 119,972 to over 176,000, was designed to decongest centres and improve efficiency without altering voters’ registration status or moving them across communities.
The Chairman also highlighted improvements in result management protocols, including mandatory uploading of Form EC8A to IReV and direct entry of party scores into the BVAS device, with built-in validation checks to prevent over-voting and mathematical inconsistencies. He confirmed that a clerical error reported at Kuroko Health Centre Polling Unit in Yangoji Ward, Kwali Area Council, was promptly corrected before ward collation, with accurate figures reflected in Form EC8B.
Looking ahead, INEC disclosed plans to commence a comprehensive voters’ revalidation exercise to sanitise the register before 2027. The second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which began on January 5, 2026, will run until April 17, while the full exercise is expected to conclude on August 30, 2026. The Commission said a revised timetable for the 2027 General Election would be issued to align with the newly enacted Electoral Act, 2026.
The meeting also featured the swearing-in of Dr. Chukwu Chukwu-Emeka Joseph as Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State. A lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he previously served in Enugu and Ebonyi States.
Prof. Amupitan urged him to uphold institutional integrity and inspire confidence in the electoral process as he begins his second tenure.
In a related development, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) sought structured collaboration with INEC in areas including capacity building, technology sharing, voter education and policy reform.
Welcoming the proposal, the INEC Chairman emphasised that while constitutional mandates differ, sustained cooperation and knowledge exchange are essential to strengthening credible, transparent and inclusive elections at all levels.
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