By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has ruled out any plan to postpone the 2027 general elections, insisting that the polls will be conducted according to the approved timetable.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, gave the assurance on Saturday during an interactive meeting with the commission’s staff and Resident Electoral Commissioners from the six South-South states in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Amupitan said preparations for the elections were already underway and that the commission had no intention of altering its statutory timetable, dismissing claims by some political parties that the polls might be postponed.
“Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled,” he said.
He reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting credible elections in accordance with the law.
The chairman also 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 released 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 urged INEC officials to ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised because of operational shortcomings.
He also revealed that the commission had published the voters’ register online and at designated locations for public scrutiny.
He said INEC had received more than 5,000 claims seeking corrections to details such as names and dates of birth, alongside over 600 objections, all of which were being addressed.
The chairman announced that the final voters’ register would be released on December 15, adding that the commission was determined to resolve all outstanding issues before the deadline.
He explained that although INEC initially considered conducting a fresh validation of the voters’ register when he assumed office, the proposal was abandoned because of concerns that the exercise would take place too close to the general elections.
On the commission’s preparedness, Amupitan expressed confidence that lessons from recent off-cycle governorship elections, particularly the Osun State election, would help improve the conduct of the 2027 polls.
He described the Osun election as particularly encouraging, noting that it recorded the highest voter turnout in the history of off-cycle elections in Nigeria and was adjudged credible by local and international observers despite earlier security concerns.
He said the experience gained from those elections would strengthen INEC’s preparations for the general elections.
Amupitan further disclosed that the commission was working with security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, to ensure the safety of voters, electoral officials, ad hoc staff and election materials.
He said INEC wanted all parts of the country to remain peaceful so that citizens could exercise their voting rights without fear.
The chairman also dismissed concerns that artificial intelligence or computer algorithms could determine the outcome of the 2027 elections, maintaining that the decision would rest with Nigerian voters.
“It is the people of Nigeria that will decide the outcome of the elections and not AI or any algorithms,” he said.
However, he acknowledged the growing cybersecurity threats associated with artificial intelligence and said the commission would explore technological measures to protect its digital infrastructure from possible attacks.
He warned INEC personnel, including members of the National Youth Service Corps serving as ad hoc election staff, against any attempt to compromise the electoral process.
According to him, any official found undermining the elections in their area of assignment would face punishment in accordance with the law.
The Daily Reality
