RismadarVoice Reporters
October 20, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections, with more than 103 million registered voters on its national register, while strengthening measures to tackle misinformation and safeguard the credibility of the electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), reiterated the commission’s commitment to credible elections during a readiness assessment visit to Enugu State, where he engaged National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners from the South-East and other senior officials.
Amupitan stressed the importance of neutrality, professionalism and strict compliance with electoral laws, warning staff against conduct capable of undermining public confidence.
He urged electoral personnel to resist political interference, financial inducements and intimidation, insisting that their responsibilities must be discharged in accordance with the Electoral Act and the commission’s Code of Conduct.
The chairman acknowledged progress in preparations but maintained that the scale of the forthcoming elections required more rigorous planning, effective coordination and stronger operational discipline.
According to him, INEC had made significant progress in implementing the statutory milestones outlined in its revised timetable and schedule of activities.
He urged officials to sustain preparations and address outstanding operational challenges before election day.
Amupitan also reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to collaborating with security agencies to protect electoral personnel, voters, technological infrastructure and election materials.
He emphasised the need to ensure that polling units remained accessible, particularly in communities experiencing security challenges.
On voter registration, the commission had earlier disclosed that Nigeria’s voter register had increased to approximately 103.43 million following three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted between August 2025 and July 2026.
The commission said the additional registrations were subject to biometric verification and other necessary checks to protect the integrity of the register.
INEC has also identified misinformation, manipulated digital content and artificial intelligence-generated materials as potential threats to the credibility of the elections.
The commission has called for stronger fact-checking, responsible political communication and cooperation with media organisations to prevent false information from influencing public understanding of the electoral process.
Speaking during the Enugu assessment, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chukwuemeka J. Chukwu, described the exercise as an opportunity to evaluate operational readiness and identify challenges requiring urgent attention.
He assured the commission’s leadership of the state’s commitment to effective coordination with relevant institutions and stakeholders.
INEC’s Director of Planning and Monitoring, Helen Ajayi, explained that the assessment would help identify logistical and administrative gaps while reinforcing staff compliance with electoral procedures.
Representatives from departments responsible for voter education, voter registration, information technology, human resources and election operations also presented updates on preparations.
The commission maintained that transparency, staff discipline, security coordination and accurate public information would remain central to delivering credible elections in 2027.
