The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to stakeholders to ask the National Assembly to speed up the passing of the Electoral Amendment Bill before it.
Chairman of the Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, at a meeting with representatives of political parties today, February 5, in Abuja, said: “we reiterate our call to all stakeholders to urge the National Assembly to expedite the ongoing amendment to ensure a stable legal environment well ahead of the (2027) elections.”
He said that the Commission is mindful of the growing public interest and anticipation surrounding the release of the timetable for the 2027 General Election.
“This is also in accordance with Section 28 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates the Commission to issue a Notice of Election at least 360 days before the poll.
” While the National Assembly is currently working on amendments to the Electoral Act, the Commission has made its submission as required.
“The Commission has also finalised the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election in full compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Electoral Act, 2022. The Senate on Wednesday passed the Electoral Act Amendment Bill and also set a Conference Committee to look at the bill.
Professor Amupitan acknowledged that credible register of voters remains the bedrock of free, fair and transparent elections, adding that no electoral process can command public confidence without trust in the integrity of its voters’ register. “First compiled ahead of the 2011 General Election, the current voter register has undergone regular updating and deployed in the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 General Elections, as well as in several off-cycle governorship and bye-elections.
“As of the 2023 General Election, the register stood at 93,469,008 voters. “However, persistent challenges —including duplicate registrations, registration by non-citizens, deceased voters and incomplete or inaccurate records— continue to generate legitimate stakeholders’ concerns.
“Such anomalies undermine public confidence in the electoral process. In response, the Commission will embark on a thorough clean-up with a view to further sanitising and strengthening the integrity of the register.
“Accordingly, the Commission will soon embark on a nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise ahead of the 2027 General Election.”
INEC boss expressed worry over the dwindling voter turnout, which he said is linked to the integrity of the voter register.
He said that “the equally pressing challenge of a progressive decline in voter turnout,” has become a serious concern for the nation’s democracy.”
He said that presidential election data showed a sobering trend, from 53.7% in 2011 to 43.6% in 2015, 34.7% in 2019, and most recently, 26.7% in 2023.
“While the introduction of the Smart Card Reader (SCR) and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has successfully eliminated ballot stuffing and ‘ghost’ votes, we must acknowledge that technology alone cannot solve voter apathy.
“Citizens’ trust is often eroded by a perceived lack of democratic dividends or the fear that their voices do not matter. “We must change this narrative together. INEC is committed to providing a seamless, pleasant voting experience by removing barriers to the ballot.
“However, the Commission cannot do it alone. I call on Political Parties to partner with us by ‘upping the ante’ in voter education and mobilization. Beyond seeking votes, your role in rebuilding public trust and inspiring citizens to exercise their franchise is critical to the health of our democracy.”
He said that in the first phase of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise conducted from 18th August to 10th December 2025, the Commission registered a total of 2,782,587 eligible voters.
He said that the second phase commenced on 5th January 2026 and will run until 17th April 2026, saying that the entire z exercise is scheduled to span one year and will be concluded on 30th August 2026. ” “We are encouraged by the strong public response to the exercise, which affirms the continuing belief of Nigerians in the democratic process and in the efforts of the Commission to ensure that every eligible citizen is afforded the opportunity to register and vote. “However, double is a violation of the law; our technology is fully equipped to detect such. INEC will not hesitate to remove offenders from the voters’ register.”
