Despite the National Assembly's delay in passing the updated Electoral Act, the Independent National Electoral Commission has assured Nigerians that it is fully prepared for the 2027 General Election. Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), INEC chairman, revealed this on Wednesday during the Commission's first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations in Abuja. The Commission stated that it has already established 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 suggestions to the National Assembly, the amendment's approval may have repercussions for certain things on our agenda. However, for the time being, the Commission has no choice but to operate under the terms of the current Electoral Act," he stated. At the meeting, the INEC chairman also urged CSOs to step up efforts to mobilise Federal Capital Territory residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the Area Council elections on Saturday, February 21, 2026. "The current PVC distribution in the FCT will end on February 10, 2026, and we do not want anyone to be disenfranchised." As partners, we ask you to assist in mobilising FCT citizens to go out and get their PVCs," he said.
Beyond PVC collection, Amupitan asked CSOs to monitor political party behaviour during campaigns and support peaceful participation. "Let us work together to monitor the operations of political parties, particularly their campaigns and overall election conduct. Let us educate the public, particularly party members, to avoid hate speech, vote buying, misinformation, disinformation, and violence, and to conduct their actions entirely within the confines of the law," he said. In an update on preparations, Amupitan stated that the FCT Area Council elections would include 1,680,315 registered voters over 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," added the minister.
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. "Free, fair, and transparent elections continue to rely on a credible voter registration. As a result, the Commission will conduct a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 general election," Amupitan stated.
Post a Comment