ABUJA: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reassured Nigerians and the international community of its commitment to neutrality, operational excellence and the integrity of the ballot as the country enters the final 100-day countdown to the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, gave the assurance on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.
The meeting marked 100 days to the first ballot of the 2027 elections and provided the Commission with an opportunity to update stakeholders on its preparations for the polls.
Amupitan said INEC had now moved from the planning stage into full execution, with election materials already in production, technology undergoing quality assurance, the voter register prepared for public display and electoral personnel undergoing systematic training.
“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,” the INEC chairman said.
He described the 100-day milestone as more than a countdown, saying it represented a call to action and the beginning of the final phase of preparations for an election that the Commission hopes will meet global standards for transparency, integrity and peace.
Amupitan recalled that since assuming office on October 23, 2025, the Commission had conducted several off-cycle elections, including the Anambra, Ekiti and Osun governorship elections, the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and a number of federal and state bye-elections.
According to him, reports from local and international observers indicated that the elections met the Commission’s benchmarks for electoral integrity.
He said the off-cycle elections also provided opportunities for INEC to test structural improvements, including the early deployment of ad hoc personnel and sensitive materials, improved logistics and intelligence-led security arrangements.
The INEC chairman said the Commission released its Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election on February 26, 2026.
The timetable contains 14 statutory milestones, nine of which, according to Amupitan, had been completed.
He added that the timetable had 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.
On funding, Amupitan acknowledged the Federal Government for the release of statutory allocations, saying the funds had enabled the Commission to meet international vendor obligations, finance the production of critical election technology and upgrade infrastructure.
He, however, appealed for the prompt release of outstanding funds to enable INEC to complete the remaining activities without disruption.
The Commission has previously outlined a detailed timetable for the 2027 elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for February 20, 2027, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections are scheduled for March 6, 2027.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise produced 10,772,421 new registrations.
The development has pushed the National Register of Voters to about 103 million.
The register will be displayed nationwide for public scrutiny from October 9 to October 15, 2026, giving Nigerians the opportunity to examine the records and raise claims or objections where necessary.
INEC will also begin the distribution of Phase 1 Permanent Voter Cards to Local Government centres on Friday, October 9.
The Commission has said public scrutiny of the register is an important part of the electoral process and is intended to allow eligible voters to identify and challenge irregularities before the election.
Amupitan disclosed that 18 of the 22 registered political parties submitted a total of 36 presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 election.
He said the Final List of Candidates for the National Assembly elections was published on September 12, 2026.
The final list of candidates for governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections is scheduled for publication on October 10, 2026.
On election technology, the INEC chairman said production was advanced for 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, with some of the devices already delivered.
He added that procurement for the printing of ballot papers and result sheets was also nearing completion.
The Commission has said technology will remain central to its efforts to strengthen the accreditation and results-management processes ahead of the 2027 polls.
Amupitan had earlier reiterated that INEC has no candidate or political party to favour, saying the Commission’s interest is the sovereign will of Nigerian voters.
With the 2027 election countdown now entering its final 100 days, INEC is expected to intensify preparations across voter registration, PVC distribution, logistics, technology, personnel training, candidate management and election security.
The Commission has maintained that its objective is to conduct an election that Nigerians and the international community can trust.
For INEC, the next 100 days will therefore be critical to completing outstanding preparations and ensuring that the systems, personnel and materials required for the 2027 General Election are ready before the first ballot is cast.
