2027 Polls: INEC Warns Electoral Act Delay May Disrupt Election Timetable
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has cautioned that delays in amending the Electoral Act could impact aspects of the timetable for the 2027 general elections, even as it reaffirmed its readiness to conduct the polls.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), raised the concern on Wednesday in Abuja during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with civil society organisations (CSOs).
Amupitan disclosed that the commission had already concluded its election timetable and schedule of activities based on the existing legal framework, noting that any changes introduced by an amended Electoral Act could necessitate adjustments.
“While we have made our submissions to the National Assembly, the passage of the amendment may have implications for certain items in our timetable,” he said. “However, for now, the commission has no choice but to operate within the framework of the subsisting Electoral Act.”
The INEC chairman appealed to the National Assembly to expedite work on the amendment process to provide certainty ahead of the 2027 polls.
“We seek your support in urging the National Assembly to speed up work on the amendment of the Electoral Act,” he added.
Despite the legislative uncertainty, Amupitan assured Nigerians that INEC remained fully prepared for the elections and announced plans to conduct a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of 2027.
“A credible register of voters remains the bedrock of free, fair and transparent elections. Accordingly, the commission will embark on a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of the 2027 general election,” he said.
On ongoing electoral activities, Amupitan urged CSOs to intensify voter mobilisation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to ensure residents collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the Area Council elections scheduled for Saturday, February 21, 2026.
He noted that PVC distribution in the FCT would end on February 10, 2026, stressing that INEC did not want any eligible voter to be disenfranchised.
The INEC chairman also called on CSOs to monitor the conduct of political parties and promote peaceful participation, warning against hate speech, vote buying, misinformation, disinformation and election-related violence.
Providing updates on preparations for the FCT polls, Amupitan said 1,680,315 registered voters would vote across 2,822 polling units in the six Area Councils of Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.
He added that 570 candidates would contest chairmanship, vice-chairmanship and councillorship positions, while INEC had concluded the recruitment and training of ad hoc staff and was configuring BVAS devices for voter accreditation and result upload to the IReV portal.
Amupitan further confirmed that bye-elections would hold 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.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has dismissed claims that the National Assembly was deliberately stalling the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, insisting that the delay was procedural.
Chairman of the House Committee on Electoral Matters, Mr Adebayo Balogun, said the bill was currently being considered in both chambers and is expected to be harmonised soon.
Speaking exclusively, Balogun expressed optimism that the process would be completed next week.
“The Senate is in session, considering the bill. Hopefully, the harmonisation will be completed by next week,” he said.
