2027: INEC sets December 15 for final voters’ register

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has fixed December 15, 2026, for the publication of the final voters’ register ahead of the 2027 general elections, as it reviews 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 was examining photographs flagged in the preliminary register and would 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.

The chairman said public scrutiny was essential to ensuring the accuracy and credibility of the document.

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

Amupitan assured Nigerians that INEC would take steps to prevent eligible voters from being disenfranchised through administrative negligence or logistical failures.

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

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

The chairman identified the creeks, coastal settlements and riverine communities in the South-South as major logistical challenges for election operations.

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

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

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He warned that anyone who attacks or threatens electoral officials, including National Youth Service Corps members deployed for election duties, would face the full weight of the law.

Amupitan also cautioned election officers against partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and financial misconduct, warning that such actions would attract disciplinary measures.

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

The chairman further highlighted staff welfare measures, including the introduction of the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, enhanced salaries, and hazard and field allowances.

He added that the commission had increased monthly overhead allocations to its state offices by 150 per cent, with the adjustment taking effect from July 1, 2026.