The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has received more than 5,400 claims and objections concerning its preliminary register of voters as it intensifies efforts to address discrepancies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja while receiving members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission at the commission’s headquarters.
Amupitan explained that the complaints comprised more than 4,800 claims and approximately 600 objections submitted through electoral officers and Resident Electoral Commissioners.
He said most of the claims involved corrections and other minor issues identified during the display of the preliminary register at registration areas across the country.
According to him, the online publication of the register has also helped uncover additional discrepancies requiring attention.
The INEC chairman assured Nigerians that all valid claims and objections would be addressed before the commission certifies the final register of voters on December 15, 2026.
He noted that the exercise was particularly important given the size of the country’s voter database, which currently contains more than 103 million registered voters.
Amupitan also announced plans to conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November to test the simultaneous operation of voter accreditation and electronic transmission of election results.
He said the commission had introduced additional safeguards requiring election results to be authenticated at polling units before being transmitted to its Election Results Viewing Portal, IReV.
The chairman added that INEC was conducting nationwide readiness assessments to identify logistical and security challenges ahead of the 2027 polls.
He disclosed that previous assessments across the South-West, North-West, South-East and North-East geopolitical zones had prompted adjustments to deployment arrangements, particularly in areas facing difficult terrain and security concerns.
Amupitan further called for stronger collaboration with international partners in tackling electoral disinformation, improving election logistics and strengthening voter education.
Earlier, the leader of the ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission and former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, Victor Bockarie Foh, said the mission was in Nigeria to assess the country’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections.
He explained that the delegation would engage political parties, government officials, electoral authorities, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to identify areas requiring support.
The mission also reaffirmed the importance of credible elections to democratic stability across the West African region.
