By Staff Reporter
October 6, 2026
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections, with the commission announcing new measures aimed at strengthening election technology, voter accreditation and the integrity of the electoral process.
The development comes as Nigeria enters the 100-day countdown to the 2027 elections. INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, briefed political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, observers, youth groups and other stakeholders on Tuesday in Abuja.
INEC disclosed that it has acquired 57,000 new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines ahead of the elections. The commission said the additional devices are intended to strengthen its technological capacity and improve voter accreditation.
The commission also announced plans to deploy Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for election-result verification, anomaly detection and cybersecurity. INEC has established a dedicated AI division within its ICT department as part of its preparations for the 2027 polls.
Meanwhile, INEC said Nigeria’s national register of voters has risen to more than 103 million registered voters following the completion of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. Nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) is scheduled to begin on Friday, October 9, 2026.
The commission has also called for the release of outstanding funds required to carry out its preparations, saying adequate and timely financing is essential for the successful organisation of the elections. INEC has proposed a budget of ₦873.78 billion for the 2027 general elections.
INEC’s official election calendar currently lists the Presidential and House of Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, followed by the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections on February 6, 2027.
With preparations entering a critical phase, INEC says its focus remains on ensuring that the 2027 elections are transparent, inclusive and properly administered.
