The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, has announced that the Commission will issue a revised Timetable for the 2027 General Election following the enactment of the new Electoral Act, 2026.
Speaking at a meeting with Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Wednesday in Abuja, the INEC Chairman disclosed that the Commission had earlier, on February 13, 2026, issued a Notice of Election under the old Electoral Act.
However, with the coming into force of the new law, adjustments have become necessary.
“I must not fail to inform you that we now have a new Electoral Act, 2026. We had on 13th February, 2026 issued a Notice of Election before the new Act was enacted. The Notice was issued under the old law. With the introduction of the new Electoral Act, we have to make some adjustments and issue a revised Timetable for the 2027 General Election,” he said.
Professor Amupitan explained that the revised timetable would align the electoral process with the provisions of the new legislation to ensure full compliance and legal certainty ahead of the polls.
The INEC Chairman also highlighted the Commission’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the integrity of the voter register.
He revealed that a Voters Revalidation Exercise would soon commence as part of a comprehensive clean-up aimed at sanitising and enhancing the credibility of the register before the 2027 General Election.
The initiative, he noted, was extensively deliberated upon during the Commission’s retreat in Lagos in January.
In addition, he informed the RECs that the second phase of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began on January 5, 2026, remains ongoing and will run until April 17, 2026.
The entire CVR exercise is expected to last one year and conclude on August 30, 2026.
Urging the Commissioners to return to their respective states with renewed commitment, Professor Amupitan stressed that professionalism and excellence must remain the guiding principles of the Commission’s operations.
“Excellence is not optional; it is mandatory,” he charged.