By Sandra Michaels
ABUJA — With exactly 100 days to the 2027 General Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared that it has shifted its operational gear from strategic planning to full execution, promising a transparent and peaceful ballot.
The Chairman of the Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, made this known on Tuesday during a World Press Conference held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Addressing journalists and election observers, Professor Amupitan stated that INEC has successfully completed nine out of its 14 critical election milestones, assuring Nigerians of the commission’s readiness to deliver a credible process that will serve as a global benchmark.
Giving a breakdown of the voter population following the conclusion of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise across three phases, the INEC Chairman announced that the National Register of Voters now stands at 103 million.
According to the data released by the commission, Lagos State maintains the highest voting population with 7.4 million registered voters, closely followed by Kano State with 6.5 million.
On the critical issue of logistics, Professor Amupitan disclosed that the commission has secured over 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats. These assets are mapped out to ensure seamless delivery of sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to all 176,846 polling units across the country.
To bolster the integrity of the technological infrastructure, the INEC Chairman confirmed the procurement of 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices. He reiterated that polling unit results will be transmitted directly to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal in real time.Turning to manpower, Professor Amupitan stated that 707,384 ad hoc staff members will be deployed for each election day. He noted that recruitment is currently ongoing through the INECPRES portal and will close on November 18.
In a strong warning against electoral malpractices, the INEC boss declared zero tolerance for vote-buying. He revealed that joint enforcement teams comprising operatives from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and the Nigeria Police Force have been put on high alert to arrest and prosecute anyone caught buying or selling votes.
