The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced plans to embark on a nationwide voter revalidation exercise aimed at cleaning up and strengthening the integrity of Nigeria’s voters’ register ahead of the 2027 General Election, while also scheduling a mock accreditation and voting exercise for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council Elections on Saturday, 7th February 2026.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing two separate consultative meetings with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Media Executives held at the Commission’s Conference Room in Abuja.
According to the Chairman, the voter revalidation exercise has become necessary to address persistent challenges associated with the national voters’ register, including duplicate registrations, underage registrations, registration by non-citizens, inclusion of deceased persons and incomplete or inaccurate voter records, which collectively undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He explained that although Nigeria’s national register of voters was first compiled ahead of the 2011 General Election and has been continuously updated and deployed for successive general, off-cycle and bye-elections, its credibility must be periodically reinforced to reflect current realities and meet public expectations.
“As of the 2023 General Election, the register stood at 93,469,008 voters. However, these anomalies continue to generate legitimate concerns. A credible register remains the bedrock of free, fair and transparent elections. No electoral process can command public confidence without trust in the integrity of its voters’ register,” Prof. Amupitan said, adding that the revalidation exercise would further sanitise the register ahead of 2027.
Turning to the FCT Area Council Elections scheduled for Saturday, 21st February 2026, the INEC Chairman said the election would involve 1,680,315 registered voters across 2,822 polling units in Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali. He disclosed that 570 candidates would contest for the positions of Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen and Councillors in 68 constituencies, noting that 10 out of the 13 activities outlined in the election timetable released on 23rd January 2025 had already been successfully completed.
He reminded political parties that campaigns would end on Thursday, 19th February 2026, and assured stakeholders that the Commission’s preparations were on course. He said non-sensitive materials had been delivered and batched at the Area Council level, recruitment of ad hoc personnel had been concluded, and training for election duty staff, including Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers, was ongoing. He added that BVAS devices were being configured for accreditation and upload of results to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, while sensitive materials would be delivered a day before the election.
As part of INEC’s readiness testing, Prof. Amupitan announced that a mock accreditation exercise would be conducted on Saturday, 7th February 2026, in 289 selected polling units across the six Area Councils, with details of the locations to be published on the Commission’s website. He also disclosed that 83 domestic and five foreign observer groups had been accredited for the polls, while online accreditation for journalists would remain open until 8th February 2026.
The INEC Chairman further announced that the Commission would conduct bye-elections on the same day as the FCT polls in Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies of Rivers State, as well as in Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies of Kano State, following vacancies arising from resignation and death of sitting legislators. He said necessary arrangements had been concluded for the conduct of the elections.
On forthcoming governorship elections, Prof. Amupitan confirmed that the Ekiti State Governorship Election would hold on Saturday, 20th June 2026, while the Osun State Governorship Election is scheduled for Saturday, 8th August 2026. He noted that several activities in the approved timetables for both elections had already been completed.
Addressing preparations for the 2027 General Election, the INEC Chairman assured stakeholders that the Timetable and Schedule of Activities had been finalised in full compliance with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), and the Electoral Act, 2022. He, however, appealed for support in urging the National Assembly to expedite action on the ongoing amendment of the Electoral Act, noting that timely legislative clarity was critical to effective planning.
Providing updates on the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), Prof. Amupitan said the Commission registered 2,782,589 eligible voters during the first phase of the exercise conducted between August and December 2025. He added that the second phase, which commenced on 5th January 2026, would run until 17th April 2026, while the entire CVR exercise would conclude on 30th August 2026. He stressed that double registration was illegal and warned that offenders would be detected, removed from the register.
The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission had received 171 letters of intent from associations seeking registration as political parties, noting that those that met constitutional and legal requirements would be announced in due course.
He urged residents of the FCT to collect their Permanent Voter Cards, reminding stakeholders that PVC distribution would end on 10th February 2026, and called on political parties and their supporters to refrain from hate speech, vote buying, misinformation, disinformation and violence during campaigns.
In his concluding remarks at both meetings, Prof. Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to transparency, inclusivity and sustained engagement with stakeholders, stressing that safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy was a collective responsibility that requires vigilance, professionalism and cooperation, particularly as the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election.
Responding on behalf of Civil Society Organisations, Ms. Grace Jerry pledged continued support for the Commission, assuring INEC of CSOs’ commitment to voter sensitisation, election observation and peaceful participation in the forthcoming FCT Area Council Elections. She expressed concern about delays in amending the Electoral Act and urged all stakeholders to intensify advocacy for swift legislative action to avoid setbacks in preparations for the 2027 General Election.
On behalf of the Media, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahya, commended the Commission’s initiatives and reaffirmed the media’s readiness to support the electoral process through extensive coverage, public enlightenment, and responsible reporting. He appealed for sustained capacity-building programmes for journalists and urged media practitioners to uphold professional ethics, national security, and national interest in their reportage.
