INEC VOTER REGISTER CLOSES IN ON 100 MILLION AS 2027 POLL PREPARATIONS INTENSIFY

Nigeria’s national voter register is approaching the 100 million mark ahead of the 2027 general elections, as the Independent National Electoral Commission steps up preparations for the polls. INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed the development in Lagos during a two-day strategic operational workshop for the commission’s administrative secretaries, where he also announced plans to introduce a real-time election readiness tracker across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Amupitan said the Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted in three phases between August 2025 and July 2026 produced 10,772,421 new registrants. The figures are still subject to verification through the Automated Biometric Identification System as INEC works to clean up the register and ensure that only eligible voters are included. The commission also reiterated its commitment to preventing eligible Nigerians from being disenfranchised because of challenges associated with Permanent Voter Card distribution.

The electoral body is also introducing a real-time operational tracker designed to provide its leadership with immediate information on the level of preparedness in every state. The system will monitor key areas including the distribution of election materials, recruitment and training of ad hoc personnel, electoral technology and general logistical readiness. Amupitan said the initiative was intended to move INEC away from last-minute responses and towards what he described as proactive management of election preparations.

According to the INEC chairman, the tracker is not being developed solely for the 2027 elections but will eventually serve as a permanent operational and onboarding framework for administrative secretaries. The commission is also reviewing five major areas ahead of the polls: voter registration, logistics and materials management, electoral technology, optimisation of ad hoc staff and financial compliance. INEC said it was drawing lessons from recent off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun governorship election, in an effort to replicate improved logistical and technological standards nationwide.

The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are expected to take place on February 6. With roughly six months remaining before the first round of voting, Amupitan said the commission would continue its readiness assessments across the country. He also identified voter apathy, public distrust and misinformation as major threats that INEC must tackle to ensure credible and peaceful elections.