INEC Chairman Breaks Silence on Plans to Shift 2027 Election

By Emmanuel Kwada

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that there is no plan to postpone the 2027 general elections, insisting that the polls will take place as scheduled.

Amupitan said the commission had already fixed its statutory timetable and was making necessary preparations to deliver peaceful, transparent and credible elections across the country.

The INEC chairman gave the assurance on Saturday during an interactive meeting with commission officials and Resident Electoral Commissioners from the six South-South states in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where the commission assessed its level of preparedness for the forthcoming elections.

Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled.

Addressing concerns over reports suggesting a possible postponement, Amupitan maintained that INEC would not alter its electoral timetable.

“Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled,” he declared.

He disclosed that Rivers State would receive particular attention during the preparations because of its strategic electoral importance and its position as the state with the highest number of registered voters in the South-South region.

According to figures presented by the commission, Rivers has 3,736,434 registered voters, followed by Delta with 3,525,988, Edo with 2,865,263, Akwa Ibom with 2,566,198, Cross River with 1,928,978 and Bayelsa with 1,200,691.

The six states collectively have 15,823,550 registered voters.

Amupitan warned electoral officials against operational lapses that could disenfranchise eligible voters, stressing that every registered voter must be given the opportunity to exercise their franchise.

On preparations for the final voters’ register, he revealed that INEC had received more than 5,000 requests for corrections, including changes to names and dates of birth, alongside over 600 objections.

He said the commission was addressing the complaints and objections, adding that the final voters’ register would be published on December 15, 2026.

The INEC chairman also expressed confidence in the commission’s ability to conduct credible elections, citing lessons from recent off-cycle governorship elections, particularly the Osun State poll, which he said recorded the highest voter turnout in the history of off-cycle elections in Nigeria.

He explained that the experiences gained from those elections would help strengthen INEC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.

On security, Amupitan disclosed that the commission was working closely with security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), to protect voters, electoral officials, National Youth Service Corps members serving as ad hoc staff and election materials.

He said INEC was determined to ensure that Nigerians could collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and safely participate in the electoral process without fear.

It is the people of Nigeria that will decide the outcome of the elections and not AI or any algorithms.

Addressing concerns about the possible influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and algorithms on the elections, the INEC chairman insisted that the outcome would be determined by Nigerians through their votes.

“It is the people of Nigeria that will decide the outcome of the elections and not AI or any algorithms,” he stated.

However, he acknowledged the growing cybersecurity threats associated with emerging technologies, assuring that INEC was strengthening the protection of its digital infrastructure against possible attacks.

Amupitan also warned commission staff and ad hoc personnel, including NYSC members, against electoral misconduct, stressing that anyone found compromising the process would face sanctions in accordance with the law.

He urged INEC officials across the South-South to demonstrate professionalism, integrity and commitment, noting that the credibility of the 2027 elections would largely depend on their conduct and performance at polling units and other designated locations.

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