The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday, October 31, assured that there is no plan to postpone the 2027 general election.
Chairman of the commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, said the timetable for the elections had been fixed and would not be altered for any reason.
He said these in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, during a session he had with INEC staff members, including Resident Electoral Commissioners from the six states of the South-South geopolitical zone.
His assurance comes amid claims by some political parties that the commission was planning to postpone the general election.
At the event, Amupitan said the commission was committed to conducting credible elections in accordance with the provisions of the law.
“Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must be held as scheduled,” he declared.
Amupitan disclosed that Rivers State would receive special attention in the commission’s preparations for the elections because of its strategic position and for having the highest number of registered voters in the South-South region.
He gave the number of registered voters in Rivers State as 3,736,434, followed by Delta State with 3,525,988; Edo, 2,865,263; Akwa Ibom, 2,566,198; Cross River, 1,928,978; and Bayelsa, 1,200,691.
He said the six states had a combined total of 15,823,550 registered voters.
“With the 3,736,434 registered voters for Rivers State, the state leads the South-South. By this, the commission will put more attention to what happens in Rivers State. It is your duty to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised because of operational failures,” he said.
The INEC chairman further disclosed that the commission had received more than 5,000 claims seeking corrections to the voter’s register, including errors in names and dates of birth, as well as over 600 objections.
He said the commission was addressing the complaints to ensure a credible voters’ register ahead of the elections, adding that the final register would be released on December 15.
Amupitan explained that although the commission had initially considered revalidating the voter’s register after he assumed office, the idea was dropped following concerns that the exercise would be too close to the general elections.
