The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Nigeria has received a total of 5,400 claims and objections to its Preliminary Register of Voters. As of Thursday, the commission recorded over 4,800 claims and around 600 objections. These claims were submitted at registration areas where the preliminary register was displayed, and objections were received through electoral officers and Resident Electoral Commissioners.
INEC Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, disclosed this information while receiving the ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission at the commission's national headquarters in Abuja. He explained that most of the claims concerned corrections and other minor issues. The online display of the register also helped identify discrepancies, Amupitan said, adding that it confirmed some of the complaints the commission had earlier received.
The INEC chairman assured Nigerians that the commission would address all valid claims and objections before certifying the Final Register of Voters on December 15, 2026. The exercise is crucial given the size of the register, which currently contains over 103 million registered voters. The commission aims to eliminate discrepancies and ensure the final register's accuracy ahead of the 2027 elections.
To further strengthen the electoral process, INEC plans to conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November. This exercise will test voter accreditation and results transmission simultaneously across all states. Additionally, the commission has introduced an extra safeguard requiring election results to be authenticated at polling units before transmission to the Election Results Viewing portal, IReV.
Amupitan also highlighted the commission's recent electoral experience, having conducted four major off-cycle elections and 16 by-elections during his first year in office. He cited the Anambra State governorship election as an example of improved electoral administration, where the result was concluded and announced within one day. The commission applied lessons from this election to subsequent polls.
On staff welfare, Amupitan disclosed that INEC had secured approval for the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, known as CEMBSS. Improved welfare for electoral officials is expected to reduce the risk of political interference. The chairman also expressed optimism about the commission's security arrangements, citing the experience in Osun State, where threats and violence subsided following adjustments to security measures.
The INEC chairman welcomed the deployment of ECOWAS long-term and short-term election observers, describing their independent assessments as important to the credibility of Nigeria's electoral process. He assured the regional body that the commission would remain impartial in discharging its responsibilities and called for stronger cooperation with international partners to address electoral disinformation and strengthen voter education.
Key points
- INEC received over 5,400 claims and objections to its Preliminary Register of Voters.
- The commission aims to certify the Final Register of Voters by December 15, 2026.
- INEC plans to conduct a nationwide mock accreditation exercise in November to test voter accreditation and results transmission.
