The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has concluded work on the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Election but is unable to release it due to ongoing amendments to the Electoral Act by the National Assembly.
INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Amupitan said the delay in releasing the timetable was not the fault of the commission, stressing that INEC had already complied with Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which empowers it to issue a notice of election not later than 360 days before polling day.
“Section 28(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022 empowers the Commission to issue a notice of election not later than 360 days before the date of the poll. While the National Assembly is currently working on amendments to the Electoral Act, the Commission has made its submission as required,” he said.
He assured political parties and the public that the timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 General Election would be released in full compliance with the Constitution and the Electoral Act once the amendment process is concluded.
Amupitan appealed to civil society groups and other stakeholders to support efforts aimed at urging the National Assembly to expedite action on the amendment process to enable INEC release the timetable without legal constraints.
The INEC chairman also raised concerns over the integrity of the national voters’ register ahead of the 2027 polls, revealing that the commission had discovered names of prominent politicians in records suspected to contain irregularities, including deceased persons.