The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to the Federal Government to release the remaining funds allocated to it, saying the money is crucial to completing preparations for the 2027 general elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the appeal on Tuesday in Abuja during a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting organised to mark 100 days to the first ballot.
Amupitan acknowledged the Federal Government’s release of statutory allocations so far but said the commission needs the outstanding funds to complete its remaining activities without disruption.
“We expect the prompt release of the remaining budget to ensure seamless execution of the remaining activities,” he said.
According to the INEC chairman, funds already released have enabled the commission to meet obligations to international vendors, produce critical election technology, improve its infrastructure and maintain operational activities across the country.
The European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, also backed the call for adequate funding, describing INEC’s task as a “Herculean” one.
Mignot stressed that all stakeholders should do everything possible to support the commission’s work, particularly by ensuring it has the financial resources required to prepare for the election.
He also clarified the EU’s position on the political contest, saying the bloc would not support any particular candidate or political party.
“Ours is a friendly partnership, respectful of Nigerian sovereignty. We don’t impose any view or orientation. And needless to say, we don’t support specific candidates or parties,” Mignot said.
He disclosed that the EU would deploy an electoral expert mission to monitor preparations for the election, the voting process and the period after the polls before eventually presenting its recommendations.
INEC Sets Up AI Division
Amupitan also disclosed that INEC has established a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Division within its Information and Communication Technology Department as part of efforts to strengthen election technology and security.
He said automated AI auditing tools were being integrated into the results verification process under a five-pillar AI governance framework, with mandatory human oversight.
A formal governance policy for the use of the technology, he added, is also being finalised.
The commission is further deploying AI-powered anomaly detection tools to monitor database traffic and protect its public portals from cyberattacks and unauthorised changes.
Amupitan warned that advances in generative AI, voice cloning and deepfake technology could make election-related misinformation more difficult to detect.
According to him, the technology can now be used to fabricate the voices of election officials, manipulate result sheets and produce fake official documents before spreading them widely online.
He therefore urged media organisations to establish fact-checking desks and verify election-related information with INEC before publication.
“In national elections, it is far more important to be right than to be first,” he said.
1.4 Million Ad Hoc Personnel Required
On manpower, Amupitan said INEC would require 707,384 ad hoc personnel for the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The same number will be required for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections scheduled for February 6, bringing the total number of engagements to 1,414,768 across 176,846 polling units.
The figure is higher than the approximately 1.2 million ad hoc personnel deployed during the 2023 general elections.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) is expected to provide the bulk of the temporary workforce. Amupitan recalled that more than 70 per cent of INEC’s ad hoc staff in 2023 — nearly 850,000 people — were corps members and student volunteers.
The INEC Portal for Recruitment of Election Staff opened on September 18 and is scheduled to close at midnight on November 18.
Voter Register Rises to 103 Million
The INEC chairman also announced that Nigeria’s National Register of Voters has risen to about 103 million following the registration of 10,772,421 new voters during the three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
The register will be displayed for public scrutiny from October 9 to 15, allowing voters to check their details and raise objections where necessary.
Distribution of Phase One Permanent Voter Cards to local government centres is also scheduled to begin on October 9.
Amupitan disclosed that 18 of the 22 registered political parties had submitted candidates for the presidential election.
He also said the commission received the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment in the case involving INEC and the Zenith Labour Party on Tuesday morning and was reviewing its implications.
Reps, Senate, Police and IPAC React
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Electoral Matters, Adebayo Balogun, said the committee had written INEC regarding enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment on Section 74 of the Electoral Act.
Balogun said INEC, like other institutions with statutory responsibilities, must take necessary action where required by law.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Electoral Matters, Simon Lalong, said responsibility for a credible election does not rest on INEC alone.
He identified political parties, candidates, security agencies, the media, civil society organisations and voters as important stakeholders in ensuring credible polls.
Representing the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Francis Idu of the Police Mobile Force, disclosed that security clearance operations were ongoing in Kogi, Niger, Benue and Taraba states.
He said the operations were aimed at addressing areas experiencing crises and creating a safer environment ahead of the election.
Meanwhile, the National Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, commended INEC over the conduct of the Osun State governorship election but urged its officials to remain neutral.
He specifically warned INEC personnel against taking sides with any political party or candidate and called for greater engagement between the commission and political parties before election day.
Dantalle also urged all stakeholders to remember that political contests are temporary while the country remains permanent.
“This election will come and go, but Nigeria will remain,” he said.
With the 2027 polls approaching, INEC says its focus is now on completing outstanding preparations, strengthening technology and security measures, mobilising personnel and ensuring that the electoral process is adequately funded.
