INEC Receives 5,400 Claims, Objections Over Voter Register

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has received more than 5,400 claims and objections over its Preliminary Register of Voters as part of efforts to ensure an accurate voters’ database ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while receiving the ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission at the commission’s national headquarters.

Amupitan said the submissions comprised over 4,800 claims recorded at registration areas where the preliminary register was displayed and about 600 objections received through electoral officers and Resident Electoral Commissioners.

He explained that most of the submissions related to corrections and other minor discrepancies identified during the display exercise.

According to him, the online publication of the preliminary register has also helped to identify additional discrepancies and confirm some complaints previously brought to the commission’s attention.

The INEC chairman assured Nigerians that all valid claims and objections would be addressed before the commission certifies the Final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026.

He said the exercise was crucial given the size of the country’s voter population, which currently stands at more than 103 million registered voters.

Amupitan added that the commission was determined to ensure that the final register was credible and free of avoidable discrepancies before the 2027 elections.

As part of preparations for the polls, he announced that INEC would conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November to test its voter accreditation and results transmission systems across the country.

He also disclosed that the commission had introduced an additional safeguard requiring election results to be authenticated at polling units before transmission to its Election Results Viewing portal (IReV).

On preparations for the 2027 elections, Amupitan said the commission had conducted readiness assessments in the South-West, North-West, South-East and North-East geopolitical zones, with plans to visit the North-Central zone the following week.

He explained that the assessments had informed adjustments to deployment arrangements, particularly in areas facing difficult terrain and security challenges.

The INEC chairman further called for stronger cooperation with international partners in tackling electoral disinformation, improving logistics and strengthening voter education.

He assured the ECOWAS delegation that the commission would remain impartial in conducting the 2027 general elections, insisting that INEC had no preferred candidate or political party.