INEC reviews FCT, Kano, Rivers elections, swears in new Enugu REC

…To release revised Timetable, Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election

…Vows stricter oversight ahead of 2027

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday, held a high-level meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) at its Headquarters in Abuja to review the recently concluded elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Kano and Rivers States.

The meeting was also to address operational challenges, and outline strategies ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The meeting equally featured the swearing-in of Dr. Chukwu Chukwu-Emeka Joseph as Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Enugu State.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, commended the staff in FCT, Kano and Rivers states for the successful conduct of the FCT Area Council election and the bye-elections in Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies, as well as Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies in Rivers State.

According to him, “The elections were largely peaceful, with results promptly announced, except in Kuje Area Council, where challenging terrain in Kabi Ward delayed final collation until Sunday afternoon.

“By 2:00pm on Sunday, following the elections, over 93 percent of polling unit results had been uploaded to the Commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV), and as of the date of the meeting, an average of 97 percent of FCT results had been successfully transmitted, highlighting the Commission’s continued commitment to transparency and timely reporting,” Amupitan said.

While acknowledging that voter apathy remains a challenge, the INEC Chairman noted a modest improvement in the FCT, where turnout rose from 9.4 per cent in 2022 to approximately 15 per cent in 2026, with over 239,000 voters casting ballots compared to 148,685 previously.

He emphasised the importance of sustained voter education and sensitisation to further enhance citizen participation and confidence in the electoral process.

Addressing public concerns over alleged “voter migration,” Prof. Amupitan, clarified that no voter was migrated in 2026.

He said that the redistribution of voters occurred in 2022 under the Commission’s Expansion of Voters’ Access to Polling Units initiative, when over 56,000 new polling units were created nationwide, increasing the total from 119,972 to over 176,000.

He said, “In the FCT alone, 411 polling units were decongested, with about 580,000 voters reassigned to 1,156 polling units. Spill-over Voting Points created within the same premises were administrative measures designed to reduce congestion and improve efficiency.

“These adjustments did not alter voter registration status or relocate voters to different communities. Ahead of the February elections, the Commission sent refresher text messages and emails to affected voters and displayed the Register of Voters for several days to facilitate easy identification of polling units.”

The INEC Chairman expressed concern over delays in opening polling units, noting that only 45 per cent of FCT polling units were operational by 8:30am, though all were open by 10:00am.

He described the initial delay as unacceptable and disclosed that staff responsible in Kuje Area Council and Kabusa Ward were queried, while a transporter causing delays in Kwali Area Council would be blacklisted.

The INEC boss also said that the commission is reviewing its transport logistics model to ensure more timely operations in future elections, though voting ultimately took place in all polling units.

While commending the security agencies for maintaining peace during the elections, Prof. Amupitan acknowledged incidents at the Kuje Central Collation Centre and another collation centre in Kwali Area Council, which were promptly addressed to allow results to be collated successfully.

He urged RECs to strengthen coordination with security agencies and local stakeholders to ensure that peaceful elections are the result of deliberate planning, not chance.

The INEC Chairman highlighted improvements in result management, noting that Presiding Officers are now required to capture and upload images of completed Form EC8A to IReV and directly enter party scores into the BVAS device.

The system performs internal validation checks to prevent over-voting, ensure mathematical consistency, and flag discrepancies. These measures were successfully tested during the recent elections, and results were confirmed accurate.

…INEC to release revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election
Following the enactment of the Electoral Act, 2026, the INEC Chairman informed RECs that the Commission will issue a revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 General Election.

The previous Notice of Election, issued on 13th February 2026 under the old law, will be adjusted to ensure compliance with the new legal framework and allow sufficient preparation time for political parties, candidates, and the electorate.

The INEC Chairman announced that the Commission will soon commence a comprehensive Voters Revalidation Exercise to further sanitise the register ahead of 2027.

He also reminded RECs that the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which began on 5th January 2026, remains ongoing until 17th April 2026, with the full exercise scheduled to conclude on 30th August 2026.

He urged the RECs to intensify public awareness to ensure eligible Nigerians complete their registration ahead of upcoming elections.

Dr. Chukwu Chukwu-Emeka Joseph, a lecturer at the University Of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), was sworn in as Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State.

He hails from Abia State and previously served in Enugu and Ebonyi States.

Congratulating him, the INEC Chairman stated, “Your dedication, expertise and commitment to upholding the democratic process have not gone unnoticed. You stand at the forefront of our electoral system, and with this mandate comes both responsibility and opportunity. As you embark on this second tenure, remember that your responsibility is not only administrative but institutional. You must continue to inspire confidence, strengthen processes and ensure that elections under your watch are free, fair and credible.”

…FOSIECON seeks structured collaboration with INEC on technology, capacity building
Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions of Nigeria (FOSIECON) has proposed a structured collaboration with the INEC to strengthen electoral governance at the state and local government levels.

The proposal was presented during a courtesy visit by a FOSIECON delegation to the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, in Abuja, which coincided with the Commission’s high-level meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) to review recent elections on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.

Leading the delegation, the National Chairman of FOSIECON, Mamman Nda Eri, said the visit formed part of the Forum’s broader effort to deepen institutional development, peer learning, and engagement with national and international partners.

He highlighted that FOSIECON’s recent capacity building and observation engagements during the FCT Area Council election were supported by the European Union (EU), the Supporting Democratic Governance in Nigeria (SDGN) programme, and DAI Global.

During the visit, the Forum requested collaboration with INEC in five key areas: capacity building and technical support through joint training programmes and mentorship for SIEC officials; technology and innovation sharing to adapt digital tools such as BVAS and IReV within state electoral frameworks; policy dialogue and electoral reform to contribute to national discussions on electoral standards and legal reforms.

Also is joint voter education initiatives to deepen grassroots democratic participation; and research, data, and knowledge exchange to promote evidence-based reforms across the electoral ecosystem.

Prof. Amupitan, welcomed the delegation, commending FOSIECON for its commitment to strengthening subnational electoral institutions. He acknowledged the distinct constitutional mandates of INEC and State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) but stressed that cooperation, peer learning, and exchange of best practices remain essential for improving the credibility of elections at all levels.

The INEC Chairman assured the Forum that the Commission is open to knowledge sharing, technical engagement, and structured dialogue, particularly in areas of training, technology deployment, and voter education strategies.

He also called for a moment of silence to honour the late Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission of Bauchi State, Alhaji Ahmed Makama, in recognition of his contributions to electoral administration and democratic development.

Prof. Amupitan, reiterated that structured collaboration and continuous capacity building are central to ensuring that elections at all levels in Nigeria remain credible, transparent, and inclusive.