2027: INEC Sets December 15 for Final Voter Register

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has fixed December 15, 2026 for the publication of the final voter register ahead of the 2027 general elections, while reviewing concerns over allegedly AI-generated photographs in the preliminary list.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed this during the commission’s South-South Zonal Interactive Meeting with staff in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Amupitan said the commission is examining photographs flagged in the preliminary register and will take corrective action based on verified findings.

He urged eligible voters to participate in the ongoing display, claims and objections exercise by checking their details and reporting suspected irregularities before the final register is published.

He said public scrutiny is essential to ensuring accuracy and credibility.

The chairman disclosed that the South-South zone has 15,823,550 registered voters, with Rivers State accounting for 3,736,434.

He assured Nigerians that INEC will prevent eligible voters from being disenfranchised through administrative negligence or logistical failures.

On preparations for 2027, he said the commission is strengthening technological capacity, including plans to deploy 57,000 newly procured Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, devices.

He added that INEC is auditing its electronic result management systems to improve transparency in transmission of results through the INEC Result Viewing, IReV, portal.

Amupitan identified creeks, coastal settlements and riverine communities in the South-South as major logistical challenges.

He said the commission has finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to ensure timely and secure movement of election personnel and materials to hard-to-reach communities.

On security, he reaffirmed INEC’s collaboration with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, stressing need for intelligence-led planning and protection for voters, officials and materials.

He warned that anyone who attacks or threatens electoral officials, including NYSC members deployed for election duties, will face full weight of the law.

He also cautioned election officers against partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and financial misconduct, warning such actions will attract disciplinary measures.

He said INEC is assessing operational readiness through field engagements and drawing lessons from recent governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun, FCT Area Council elections and 16 by-elections.

He highlighted staff welfare measures, including introduction of Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, enhanced salaries, hazard and field allowances, and 150 per cent increase in monthly overhead allocations to state offices effective July 1, 2026.