The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that Rivers State leads the South-South geopolitical zone with 3,736,434 registered voters out of a complete of 15,823,550 voters throughout the area forward of the 2027 common elections.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, in the course of the Commission’s South-South Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment.
Amupitan careworn that no eligible voter must be disenfranchised via administrative negligence or logistical failure, charging electoral officers to make sure enough preparations for the forthcoming elections.
He mentioned the readiness evaluation was a part of the Commission’s field-based method to evaluating operational preparedness, figuring out gaps and strengthening service supply forward of the nationwide train.
Addressing considerations over suspicious pictures on the preliminary voters’ register revealed on-line, the INEC chairman mentioned the Commission was inspecting the data and would take corrective motion primarily based on verified findings.
He urged Nigerians to take part within the show, claims and objections course of forward of the publication of the ultimate voters’ register scheduled for December 15, 2026.
On electoral expertise, Amupitan disclosed that the Commission was making ready its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), together with 57,000 newly procured units, whereas auditing its digital consequence administration methods to strengthen transparency in consequence transmission via the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
The INEC chairman additionally highlighted the logistical challenges posed by creeks, coastal settlements and riverine communities within the South-South, disclosing that the Commission had finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to facilitate the well timed and safe transportation of election personnel and supplies.
On election safety, he reaffirmed INEC’s collaboration with safety companies below the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), emphasising intelligence-led planning and the safety of voters, electoral supplies and personnel.
He warned that anybody who threatens or assaults INEC officers, together with National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed for election duties, would face the complete weight of the legislation.
Amupitan additional charged electoral officers throughout the zone to uphold impartiality, self-discipline and accountability, warning that partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and monetary impropriety would entice disciplinary motion.
He additionally highlighted employees welfare measures launched by the Commission, together with the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), enhanced salaries, hazard and area allowances, in addition to a 150 per cent improve in month-to-month state workplace overhead allocations, efficient July 1, 2026.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State welcomed the INEC chairman, National Commissioners, fellow RECs and different officers from the six South-South states, describing the assembly as a possibility to evaluate preparedness and tackle excellent operational challenges forward of Election Day.
The REC mentioned credible elections required deliberate planning, enough logistics, educated personnel, useful expertise, efficient safety coordination and sustained voter schooling.
He additionally referred to as for stronger collaboration between the Commission’s headquarters and state places of work, in addition to inclusive participation by ladies, younger individuals and individuals with disabilities.
In her presentation, the Director of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs Helen Ajayi, mentioned the assembly was aimed toward assessing state preparedness, figuring out operational and logistical challenges, enhancing employees motivation and offering departmental updates on preparations for the 2027 common elections.
She defined that state of affairs experiences from the six states would cowl election safety, coaching, voter schooling and stakeholder engagement, whereas departmental shows would supply updates on voter registration and Permanent Voter Card assortment, info and communication expertise, human assets and election operations.
Ajayi additionally highlighted Electoral Risk Management as a instrument for figuring out and mapping potential electoral danger areas to help preventive planning and safety coordination.
She urged Electoral Officers and different area personnel to cooperate with evaluation groups and work carefully with the Planning and Monitoring Department to make sure efficient monitoring of the Commission’s actions and forestall implementation gaps.
Representatives of the six South-South states additionally introduced experiences on their respective ranges of preparedness, highlighting operational progress, excellent duties and challenges requiring consideration.
The assembly types a part of INEC’s nationwide operational readiness evaluation aimed toward strengthening coordination, addressing rising challenges and making certain that preparations for the 2027 common elections are accomplished effectively and in accordance with the legislation.
We’ve received the sting. Get real-time experiences, breaking scoops, and unique angles delivered straight to your telephone. Don’t accept stale information. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for twenty-four/7 updates →
