INEC CHAIRMAN INSISTS 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS WILL HOLD AS SCHEDULED, RULES OUT POSTPONEMENT

By NaijaParrot | October 31, 2026 

Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria 

 The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has declared that the commission has no intention of changing the timetable for the 2027 general elections, insisting that the polls must take place as scheduled. Amupitan made the position known on Saturday during an interactive meeting with INEC officials from the six states in the South-South geopolitical zone in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The meeting was also organised to assess the commission’s level of preparedness for the forthcoming elections.Addressing the officials, the INEC chairman maintained that the commission’s election timetable was already established and would not be altered. “Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must hold as scheduled,” Amupitan declared. 

 His statement comes amid public discussions and claims by some political stakeholders concerning a possible postponement of the 2027 general elections. INEC’s position signals its commitment to proceeding with preparations in line with the approved electoral schedule. 

 Under the revised timetable announced by the commission, the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are expected to take place on February 6, 2027. The commission has continued preparations involving voter registration records, electoral logistics, security arrangements and other operational requirements ahead of the polls. 

 Amupitan also disclosed that Rivers State would receive particular attention during the preparations because it has the highest number of registered voters in the South-South region. He listed Rivers State as having 3,736,434 registered voters, followed by Delta with 3,525,988, Edo with 2,865,263, Akwa Ibom with 2,566,198, Cross River with 1,928,978 and Bayelsa with 1,200,691. According to him, the six South-South states have a combined total of 15,823,550 registered voters. 

 He urged INEC officials to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised because of operational shortcomings. 

 The INEC chairman further disclosed that the commission had received more than 5,000 requests for corrections to voter information, including names and dates of birth, alongside over 600 objections. He said the commission was addressing the outstanding issues and would release the final voters’ register on December 15. 

Amotan also assured Nigerians that INEC was working with security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services, to protect voters, electoral personnel and election materials. He called on commission staff to remain committed to their responsibilities, warning that any official found attempting to compromise the electoral process would face the consequences provided by law. 

 On concerns about the possible influence of Artificial Intelligence and digital manipulation during the 2027 elections, Amupitan maintained that the decision would ultimately rest with Nigerian voters. He stressed that technology would not determine the outcome of the polls, while assuring that INEC was strengthening the cybersecurity of its digital infrastructure to guard against possible attacks. 

 The commission says it remains focused on conducting peaceful, transparent and credible elections across the country.  

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