With just 100 days to go before Nigerians return to the polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, says preparations for the 2027 General Election have entered their most critical phase, with 103 million voters now on the national register.
From voter registration and the deployment of new Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, devices, to artificial intelligence safeguards, election logistics and the recruitment of more than 1.4 million ad hoc personnel, the commission says it has moved beyond planning and into full-scale execution.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at a world press conference and national stakeholders’ meeting marking 100 days to the January 16, 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
For INEC, the countdown is more than a date on the electoral calendar. It is the point at which months of preparation must translate into a seamless election across 176,846 polling units, 8,838 Registration Areas and 774 Local Government Areas.
Amupitan said nine of the 14 major statutory milestones contained in the commission’s revised timetable had already been completed.
103 Million Voters, 10.7 Million New Registrations
The final voter register now stands at about 103.4 million, following three phases of Continuous Voter Registration which produced 10,772,421 new registrations.
The first phase recorded 2.61 million registrations, the second 4.12 million, while the third phase added 3.87 million.
Lagos has the highest number of registered voters with 7,488,633, followed by Kano with 6,570,276 and Kaduna with 4,662,640.
At the other end, Ekiti has the lowest number with 1,055,708, followed by Bayelsa with 1,200,691.
Men account for 51.75 per cent of the register, while women make up 48.25 per cent.
The register also contains 232,658 Persons With Disabilities across 10 categories.
Voters to Scrutinise Register From Friday
The next major date on the electoral calendar comes on Friday, October 9, when INEC will begin displaying the Register of Voters nationwide for public scrutiny.
The exercise will run until October 15, giving voters an opportunity to verify their details and raise claims or objections.
Distribution of Phase One Permanent Voter Cards to Local Government Centres will also begin on October 9.
INEC says it has introduced online registration and printable PVC technology to reduce the difficulties associated with physical registration and waiting for voter cards.
The commission expects to present the final register to political parties on December 15.
57,000 New BVAS Devices
Technology is also at the centre of INEC’s preparations.
The commission has acquired 57,000 new BVAS devices, while existing devices have undergone software upgrades, battery optimisation and biometric calibration.
A six-day stress test of configured BVAS devices is scheduled for October 23 to 28, followed by a nationwide mock accreditation and election simulation in November.
INEC says polling unit results will continue to be electronically uploaded to the IReV portal after verification.
AI Enters Nigeria’s Electoral Defence
But as technology becomes central to the election, INEC is also preparing for its darker side.
The commission has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division to help detect anomalies, protect its databases and guard public portals against cyber intrusions and unauthorised alterations.
Amupitan warned that deepfakes, voice cloning and other AI-generated content could be used to impersonate election officials, fabricate result sheets and spread false information at a speed that could outpace verification.
He urged the media to strengthen fact-checking and verify election-related information with INEC before publication.
He also warned against the declaration of privately collated results, stressing that the legal authority to declare election results rests with the commission.
1.4 Million Ad Hoc Personnel Needed
Behind the technology will be a massive human workforce.
INEC says it will require 707,384 ad hoc personnel for each of the two election days, translating to 1,414,768 engagements across the two rounds of the 2027 elections.
Recruitment opened on September 18 and will close on November 18, 2026.
Serving and former NYSC members, tertiary institution students, qualified public servants and ICT professionals are among those eligible to apply.
The commission says NYSC members will remain a major component of the workforce, with additional measures planned to strengthen their welfare, insurance and security.
More Than 100,000 Vehicles, 4,000 Boats
Moving election personnel and materials across Nigeria’s diverse terrain remains another major test.
INEC says it has agreements with transport unions to mobilise more than 100,000 vehicles and 4,000 boats.
The plan covers difficult-to-reach riverine communities, mountainous areas and other challenging terrains.
Non-sensitive materials will be pre-positioned at LGA hubs, while sensitive materials are expected to move from CBN vaults to LGAs 72 hours before the polls.
The commission says the strategy is designed to ensure polling units open at 7:30am nationwide.
Security, Vote-Buying and Inclusion
INEC says it is working with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to develop intelligence-led deployments for the safety of voters, election officials and materials.
The commission will also work with the Ministry of Justice, EFCC, ICPC and NFIU to monitor campaign finances and tackle vote-buying and illicit spending.
For voters who face physical or communication barriers, INEC says it is procuring Braille ballot guides, voter education materials, posters for deaf voters and magnifying glasses for visually impaired voters and people with albinism.
Sign language interpreters will be deployed at state collation centres.
The commission also plans town hall meetings for rural women across the 774 LGAs, youth peace advocacy and voter mobilisation in local languages.
The Final 100-Day Sprint
INEC says readiness assessments have already been completed in the South-West and North-West, with the remaining geopolitical zones to follow.
Its Election Monitoring and Support Centre will track preparations across the 36 states, the FCT and 774 LGAs, while the Situation Room Data Support Centre will become operational six days before the election and remain active through the post-election period.
With 100 days left, Amupitan said the commission was now focused on turning its preparations into delivery.
“Our materials are in production, technology is undergoing rigorous quality assurance, our register is finalised for public display, and our workforce is being systematically trained,” he said.
The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will hold on February 6.