By Barth Ikiebe
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has unveiled an expansive, high-stakes electoral roadmap, beginning with a nationwide voter revalidation exercise.
Amupitan also announced the timetable for multiple elections in 2026 and the finalisation of the 2027 election timetable pending legislative action.
Speaking at INEC’s First Quarterly Consultative Meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) at the Commission’s Conference Room in Abuja, Amupitan warned that Nigeria is entering a decisive electoral phase that will test institutions, political actors and citizens alike.
“This year will be full of electoral activities,” he said, signalling the start of what insiders describe as one of the most complex election cycles since 1999.
Barely 15 days after assuming office, the INEC Chairman was thrown into the deep end with the Anambra State off-cycle governorship election held on 8th November 2025.
According to Amupitan, the Commission managed the poll involving 16 political parties, 2.8 million registered voters and 5,718 polling units, stressing that transparency, accountability and strict adherence to the law guided the process.
He singled out the deployment of sign language interpreters as a landmark step toward inclusive elections and commended CSOs for their cooperation.
Attention will now shift to the Federal Capital Territory, where Area Council elections will be held on Saturday, 21st February 2026.
INEC disclosed that 1,680,315 registered voters are expected to vote across 2,822 polling units in the six Area Councils Abaji, AMAC, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali.
A total of 570 candidates will contest Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Councillorship seats across 68 constituencies.
Amupitan said 10 of the 13 activities in the election timetable have already been completed, reminding parties that campaigns end on 19th February.
Non-sensitive materials have been delivered, ad hoc staff recruitment completed, and training is ongoing for Presiding Officers and Assistants.
BVAS devices are being configured for accreditation and result upload to the IReV portal, while sensitive materials will be deployed a day before the election.
INEC will also conduct a mock accreditation exercise on 7th February in 289 polling units across the FCT.
In addition, 83 domestic and five foreign observer groups have been accredited.
The same 21st February 2026 date will also see bye-elections in:
Ahoada East II and Khana II State Constituencies in Rivers State
Kano Municipal and Ungogo State Constituencies in Kano State.
Over 648,000 registered voters are expected to participate across the four constituencies.
INEC confirmed that:
Ekiti Governorship Election will hold on 20th June 2026
Osun Governorship Election is scheduled for 8th August 2026.
Preparatory activities for both elections are already underway.
Amupitan revealed that the timetable for the 2027 General Election has been fully finalised in line with the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
However, he urged CSOs to pressure the National Assembly to fast-track amendments to the Electoral Act to avoid last-minute disruptions.
In what may become one of INEC’s most consequential moves, the Commission announced a nationwide voter revalidation exercise ahead of 2027.
As of the 2023 General Election, Nigeria’s voter register stood at 93,469,008.
But INEC admitted that issues such as duplicate entries, underage registration, non-citizens and deceased voters have eroded public confidence.
“No credible election can exist without a trusted register,” Amupitan said.
INEC disclosed that 2,782,589 voters were registered during the first phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise between August and December 2025.
The second phase, which began on 5 January 2026, will run until 17 April, with the entire CVR programme ending 30 August 2026.
INEC also confirmed receiving 171 applications from associations seeking registration as political parties.
Only groups that met constitutional and legal requirements will be approved, with successful applicants to be announced soon.
With PVC distribution in the FCT ending on 10 February 2026, the INEC Chairman appealed to CSOs to mobilise residents to collect their cards to avoid disenfranchisement.
He also warned political parties against hate speech, vote-buying, misinformation and violence, stressing that voter apathy, gender inclusion and civic education remain pressing challenges.
As Nigeria edges closer to another defining election cycle, Amupitan left no doubt about the road ahead.
“Preparing for credible elections is a collective responsibility and Democracy must be defended together”, he advised.
