INEC Unveils Comprehensive Strategy for 2027 General Election Preparations
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced a major nationwide initiative to clean up Nigeria's voter register and enhance electoral integrity ahead of the highly anticipated 2027 General Election. This move comes as part of the commission's broader efforts to strengthen democratic processes and restore public confidence in the electoral system.
Nationwide Voter Register Cleanup Initiative
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed these plans during the commission's quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations held in Abuja. He emphasized that a credible voter register serves as the fundamental foundation for conducting free, fair, and transparent elections. "No electoral process can command public confidence without trust in the integrity of its voters' register," Professor Amupitan stated unequivocally.
The national voter register, initially compiled before the 2011 General Election, has been continuously updated and utilized in subsequent elections including 2015, 2019, and 2023 general elections, as well as numerous off-cycle governorship and by-elections. Despite these updates, the register currently faces significant challenges that undermine its credibility.
During the 2023 general election, the register contained 93,469,008 voters, but persistent issues include:
- Duplicate registrations across multiple locations
- Underage voters improperly included in the database
- Names of deceased individuals remaining active
- Non-citizens registered as eligible voters
- Incomplete or inaccurate personal records
Professor Amupitan highlighted the urgency of addressing these anomalies, citing the Anambra governorship election as a concerning example where only 600,000 out of 2.8 million registered voters actually participated. The discovery of deceased politicians' names on the register further emphasized the need for immediate reform. "We're going to clean up and ensure that we don't continue to expect dead people to come from their graves and come and vote on the day of the election," he declared.
Progress on New Political Party Registrations
In addition to the voter register cleanup, Professor Amupitan provided substantial updates regarding associations seeking registration as political parties. The commission has received 171 letters of intent from various groups aspiring for official recognition as political entities.
INEC has been meticulously assessing these applications according to established legal frameworks:
- Section 222 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended)
- Section 79 of the Electoral Act, 2022
- Clause 2 of INEC's Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties, 2022
While several associations failed to meet the stringent constitutional and legal requirements, Professor Amupitan assured stakeholders that details of successful applications would be released imminently. "Let me assure you that the successful association(s) will soon be announced by the commission," he confirmed, indicating that new political parties could emerge before the 2027 electoral cycle.
Continuous Voter Registration Achievements
The ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) program continues to demonstrate strong public engagement with Nigeria's democratic processes. Professor Amupitan confirmed that the second phase of the exercise commenced on January 5 and will continue through April 17, with the entire CVR program scheduled to conclude on August 30.
During the first phase conducted between August 18 and December 10, 2025, INEC successfully registered 2,782,589 eligible voters. This substantial participation reflects Nigerians' enduring belief in democratic principles and the commission's commitment to ensuring every eligible citizen has the opportunity to register and exercise their voting rights.
For enhanced transparency, INEC publishes weekly data on completed online pre-registrations and physical registrations through its official website, allowing public monitoring of the registration process.
Broader Electoral Preparations
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that representatives from registered civil society organizations attended the Abuja meeting, underscoring the collaborative approach INEC is taking in its election preparations. Simultaneously, the electoral body has completed preliminary work on the 2027 election timetable and schedule of activities, indicating comprehensive planning is already underway.
These combined initiatives—voter register cleanup, new party registrations, and continuous voter registration—represent INEC's multi-faceted strategy to enhance Nigeria's electoral system ahead of the 2027 General Election. The commission's proactive measures aim to address longstanding concerns about electoral integrity while expanding democratic participation across the nation.
