The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out any plan to alter the timetable for the 2027 general elections, insisting that the polls must be conducted as scheduled in accordance with the provisions of the law.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the declaration during an interactive meeting with commission staff from the six South-South states in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where he assessed their preparedness for the forthcoming general elections.
Amupitan maintained that the commission’s statutory timeline remained fixed and that there was no justification for changing the schedule, stressing that INEC was committed to delivering credible elections within the established legal framework.
“Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled,” the INEC chairman declared.
He emphasised that the commission was determined to conduct elections that would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions and reflect the will of the electorate.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that Rivers State would receive particular attention during the 2027 electoral preparations because it has the highest number of registered voters in the South-South geopolitical zone.
According to figures presented by the commission, Rivers State has 3,736,434 registered voters, followed by Delta State 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 account for 15,823,550 registered voters, making the South-South region a significant electoral bloc ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan said Rivers’ position in the regional voter register required heightened operational attention to ensure that eligible voters were not disenfranchised because of administrative or logistical shortcomings.
He urged INEC personnel in the state to discharge their responsibilities diligently, particularly in areas relating to voter registration, electoral logistics and the overall management of the voting process.
“With the 3,736,434 registered voters for Rivers State, the state leads the South-South. By this, the commission will put more attention to what happens in Rivers State. It is your duty to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised because of operational failures,” he said.
The commission also announced that the final register of voters would be released on December 15, expressing confidence that all outstanding issues relating to the exercise would be resolved before the deadline.
The INEC chairman disclosed that he had initially considered conducting a fresh revalidation of the voters’ register after assuming office but eventually abandoned the proposal because of concerns that the exercise would take place too close to the 2027 general elections.
He explained that the decision was informed by the need to avoid unnecessary complications and ensure that the commission remained focused on preparations for the polls.
Amupitan further expressed confidence in INEC’s capacity to conduct peaceful, transparent and credible elections, noting that recent off-cycle governorship elections had provided valuable lessons for improving the electoral process.
He specifically cited the Osun State governorship election as one of the exercises that had strengthened the commission’s confidence in its operational capacity.
According to him, the experience gained from conducting several off-cycle elections before the general polls would help INEC identify operational weaknesses, improve procedures and address challenges before the nationwide exercise.
“Osun State elections gave us the confidence that we can achieve this despite the noise. It is good that we had a series of those elections before the general elections because we learn lessons from every election,” he stated.
The INEC chairman reiterated that the commission’s objective was to conduct an election capable of advancing national development and strengthening democratic confidence rather than creating instability.
“We will conduct elections that will move the nation forward and not an election that will bring it down,” he added.
With the 2027 general elections approaching, INEC’s assurance that the electoral timetable will remain unchanged places greater responsibility on the commission to demonstrate preparedness, transparency, impartiality and operational efficiency.
Beyond announcing a fixed timetable, the credibility of the exercise will ultimately depend on the commission’s ability to protect voters’ rights, ensure equal treatment of political parties, deploy adequate personnel and materials, and deliver results that genuinely reflect the choices of Nigerians.
