No plan to shift 2027 elections — INEC chairman

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has affirmed that there are no plans to alter the scheduled 2027 general elections. The elections are set to proceed as planned, according to Amupitan, who emphasized the importance of adhering to the statutory timeline. During a staff meeting held in Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, Amupitan addressed the readiness of the six South-South states for the upcoming elections.

He highlighted Rivers State, with its 3,736,434 registered voters, as the most significant in the region, and assured that the commission would pay special attention to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Amupitan confirmed that the voters' register had been published online and at specific locations, and that the commission had addressed over 5,000 corrections and over 600 objections to create a credible voter list.

He stressed that the final voters' register would be released on December 15, and that all outstanding issues would be resolved before the deadline. Amupitan expressed confidence in the electoral process, drawing lessons from the recently concluded off-cycle governorship elections, particularly the Osun State election, which was lauded for its transparency and high voter turnout.

He assured that the commission would employ the experience gained from the off-cycle elections to further enhance preparations for the 2027 general elections, aiming to conduct an election that would contribute positively to the nation's progress.