Amupitan pledges credible polls as INEC races to deploy 1.41 million ad-hoc personnel, 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats across 176,846 polling units
By Chioma Vivian James, Abuja
With Nigeria’s voter register now standing at more than 103 million, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has entered the final 100-day countdown to the 2027 general election, unveiling an extensive operational plan aimed at delivering a credible, transparent, technology-driven and peaceful electoral process.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja at the Commission’s World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting, declaring that preparations had moved decisively from planning to execution ahead of the first ballot.
According to Amupitan, election materials are already in production, critical technologies are undergoing quality assurance, the voters’ register has been finalised for public scrutiny, while preparations are underway to recruit and train the massive workforce required to conduct the elections.
“As we begin this 100-day sprint to the 2027 General Election, we reassure the nation and the international community of our total commitment to neutrality, operational excellence and the sacred integrity of the ballot box,” he said.
The INEC chairman described the 100-day milestone as more than a countdown, stressing that it signals the beginning of the final operational phase of an election the Commission hopes will set a new benchmark for transparency, integrity and peaceful democratic transition.
103 MILLION VOTERS, 10.7 MILLION NEW REGISTRANTS
At the heart of the Commission’s preparations is a significantly expanded national voters’ register.
INEC disclosed that 10,772,421 new voters were registered during the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, bringing the total number of registered voters to approximately 103 million.
The updated register will be displayed nationwide from October 9 to 15, 2026, allowing citizens to scrutinise their details, identify discrepancies and raise objections before the election.
The distribution of Phase One Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Local Government Area centres is also scheduled to commence on October 9.
The size of the register presents a formidable logistical challenge, with INEC preparing to coordinate personnel, election technology and sensitive materials across 176,846 polling units nationwide.
57,000 NEW BVAS DEVICES FOR 2027
Technology remains central to INEC’s strategy for the 2027 elections.
The Commission disclosed that production of 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices has advanced, with some units already delivered.
Procurement of ballot papers and result sheets is also nearing completion, according to the electoral body.
To ensure that the technology performs effectively under election-day pressure, INEC has scheduled a six-day stress test of all configured BVAS devices from October 23 to 28, followed by a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November.
The Commission has also established an Artificial Intelligence Division within its ICT Department, although Amupitan stressed that the use of AI would remain subject to mandatory human oversight.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the use of artificial intelligence, voice cloning and deepfake technology to spread false election information, manufacture fake statements, manipulate result sheets and circulate fabricated audio messages.
Amupitan therefore urged media organisations and citizens to exercise caution and verify election-related information before publication or dissemination.
“In national elections, it is far more important to be right than to be first,” he cautioned.
1.41 MILLION AD-HOC PERSONNEL REQUIRED
Beyond technology, INEC faces the enormous task of mobilising and deploying election personnel across the country.
The Commission said it would require 707,384 ad-hoc personnel for each of the two election days — January 16 and February 6, 2027 — translating to 1,414,768 engagements across the nation’s 176,846 polling units.
Recruitment through the INEC Portal for Recruitment of Election Staff opened on September 18 and will close at midnight on November 18, 2026.
The scale of the recruitment underscores the complexity of conducting simultaneous electoral operations across thousands of polling locations.
100,000 VEHICLES, 4,000 BOATS FOR ELECTION LOGISTICS
Logistics will be another critical test for the Commission.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had renewed its Memorandum of Understanding with the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria and Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria to mobilise more than 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats for the elections.
Under the logistics arrangement, sensitive election materials are expected to move from Central Bank of Nigeria vaults to Local Government Areas 72 hours before polling day.
The materials are expected to reach all 8,838 Registration Area Centres by 4pm on the eve of the election, ahead of the scheduled 7:30am nationwide opening of polling units.
The strategy is designed to minimise last-minute logistical challenges and ensure that election personnel and materials arrive at their destinations ahead of polling.
POLITICAL PARTIES ENTER CRITICAL PHASE
Political preparations have also intensified as the country moves towards the 2027 polls.
INEC disclosed that 18 of the 22 registered political parties submitted a total of 36 presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the election.
The final list of National Assembly candidates was published on September 12, while the final list of governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates is scheduled for publication on October 10.
The Commission said its revised timetable, released on February 26, 2026, contains 14 statutory milestones, nine of which have already been completed.
The timetable has subsequently been translated into an operational plan covering INEC’s 23 headquarters departments and directorates, 36 state offices, the Federal Capital Territory and all 774 Local Government Area offices.
SECURITY TAKES CENTRE STAGE
Security remains one of the most critical concerns ahead of the elections.
Through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, INEC said it would commence joint training for thousands of electoral security personnel.
The Commission also plans joint monitoring and undercover surveillance operations with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) to combat vote-buying.
Amupitan warned that electoral offenders would face arrest and prosecution under the Electoral Act 2026.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, Assistant Inspector-General of Police Alyonu Francis Idu said the police had commenced clearance operations in Kogi, Niger, Benue and Taraba states to stabilise areas affected by security challenges before the elections.
According to him, the security situation had created “pockets of fear”, but the police were working to restore social stability ahead of polling.
He added that the Force would review its pre-election security operations in November and report to Nigerians by the end of December.
POLITICAL ACTORS, INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY DEMAND CREDIBLE POLL
The Abuja stakeholders’ meeting also brought renewed calls for INEC and other institutions to protect the credibility of the 2027 election.
The Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Dr Yusuf Dantalle, congratulated INEC on the recently concluded Osun governorship election, describing it as a standard Nigerians expect to see replicated during the general election.
He warned electoral officials against taking sides and urged security agencies to remain faithful to their constitutional responsibilities.
Dantalle also called for greater engagement between INEC and political parties before election day, while urging the media to verify information before publication.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Senator Simon Lalong, said credible elections remained a collective responsibility involving political parties, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and voters.
His House counterpart, Hon. Adebayo Balogun, urged INEC to enforce constitutional and electoral provisions promptly in order to minimise avoidable litigation.
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mingot, described INEC’s task as “Herculean” and called on stakeholders, particularly government, to facilitate the Commission’s work through timely budgetary support.
He disclosed that the European Union would deploy an expert electoral mission to monitor the pre-election period, conduct of the polls and post-election developments.
FUNDING REMAINS A CRITICAL FACTOR
While Amupitan acknowledged the timely release of statutory allocations by the Federal Government, he appealed for the prompt release of outstanding funds required to complete the remaining electoral preparations.
He said available funding had enabled INEC to meet international vendor obligations, finance critical election technology and upgrade infrastructure.
However, he warned that outstanding resources remained necessary for the Commission to execute its remaining activities seamlessly.
The funding concern adds another layer of pressure to INEC’s already demanding 100-day sprint, coming alongside voter-register verification, PVC distribution, BVAS testing, recruitment, logistics, security preparations and political-party compliance.
THE 100-DAY TEST
With only 100 days to the first phase of the 2027 general election, INEC’s challenge has moved beyond designing the electoral process to successfully executing thousands of interconnected operations across the country.
The Secretary to the Commission, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, said INEC would immediately begin translating recommendations from the stakeholders’ meeting into operational plans and frameworks.
She described the engagement as a renewed commitment to Nigeria’s democratic project, stressing that the 2027 election belongs to all Nigerians and would not merely be an exercise conducted by INEC.
The scale of the task is enormous: 103 million registered voters, 176,846 polling units, 57,000 new BVAS devices, 1.41 million ad-hoc personnel, more than 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats will form part of the machinery required to deliver Nigeria’s next general election.
But beyond the impressive numbers and elaborate preparations lies the ultimate test whether INEC can translate its operational readiness into an election that Nigerians, political actors and the international community can trust.
For the electoral commission, the countdown has begun. The next 100 days will determine whether the promises of neutrality, technological efficiency, transparency and operational excellence can withstand the enormous pressures of Nigeria’s 2027 electoral contest.
