The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that Rivers State has the largest number of registered voters in Nigeria’s South-South geopolitical zone, with 3,736,434 people on its register ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The figure was announced in Port Harcourt during a meeting convened to evaluate the preparedness of electoral officials across the region.
The six states in the South-South collectively have 15,823,550 registered voters, according to statistics presented by the commission.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, made the disclosure on Saturday at the South-South Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment.
The gathering focused on reviewing preparations, identifying operational weaknesses and determining what needs to be addressed before the next nationwide elections.
Amupitan said the commission must ensure that eligible Nigerians are not prevented from voting because of administrative shortcomings, inadequate planning or failures in the movement of election materials.
He explained that the assessment was designed to examine the actual level of preparedness in the field rather than rely solely on reports submitted by individual offices.
The exercise would also help the commission identify gaps early enough to introduce corrective measures.
INEC addresses concerns over voter registration records
The accuracy of the voters’ register featured among the issues discussed at the meeting, following concerns about suspicious photographs reportedly found in the preliminary register published online.
Amupitan said INEC was examining the records in question and would take appropriate action after establishing the facts.
He urged eligible voters to participate in the display, claims and objections exercise, explaining that public scrutiny would help the commission identify errors and improve the quality of the final register.
The commission has scheduled December 15, 2026, for the publication of the final voters’ register. Amupitan encouraged Nigerians to verify their details and report discrepancies through the designated procedures before the deadline.
He stressed that ensuring the reliability of voter information was an important part of preparations for the 2027 elections.
57,000 new BVAS devices in preparation
INEC is also working to ensure that its technological infrastructure is ready for the next electoral exercise.
The chairman disclosed that the commission was preparing its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), including 57,000 newly procured devices intended to support election operations.
He added that INEC was auditing its electronic result management systems to strengthen the processes used to transmit and display election results.
The review includes the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal, which enables members of the public to access uploaded polling-unit results.
According to Amupitan, adequate preparation of the commission’s technology is necessary to improve operational efficiency and reinforce transparency throughout the electoral process.
The readiness exercise will therefore require attention not only to equipment availability but also to the systems and personnel responsible for operating the technology during the elections.
Maritime transport arrangement to support Riverine communities
The chairman also drew attention to the transportation difficulties associated with the South-South’s geographical landscape, particularly in communities accessible mainly through waterways.
He identified creeks, coastal settlements and riverine locations as areas requiring careful logistical planning to ensure election personnel and materials arrive at their destinations on time.
To address the challenge, Amupitan announced that INEC had finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union.
The agreement is intended to facilitate the safe and timely transportation of electoral officials and materials, particularly in locations where conventional road transportation may be inadequate.
He emphasised that such arrangements were essential to preventing geographical barriers from affecting voters’ ability to participate in the elections.
The commission is expected to incorporate these considerations into its operational plans as preparations continue across the region.
INEC strengthens election security measures
Security arrangements were another major issue raised by the INEC chairman, who reaffirmed the commission’s cooperation with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
He said effective intelligence gathering, advance planning and coordination among relevant agencies would be necessary to protect voters, election workers and sensitive materials.
Amupitan also issued a warning against attacks or threats directed at electoral personnel, including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) assigned to election duties.
He maintained that anyone who intimidates or assaults INEC officials would face the full consequences of the law.
The chairman further reminded electoral officers that their responsibilities demanded impartiality, discipline and accountability.
He warned that partisanship, negligence, unauthorised absence from duty and financial misconduct would attract disciplinary action, stressing that public confidence depended partly on the conduct of officials responsible for administering elections.
Commission highlights staff welfare improvements
Amupitan also outlined measures introduced to improve staff welfare and support the commission’s operations.
These include the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), improved salaries, hazard allowances and field allowances for eligible personnel.
He further disclosed that monthly overhead allocations for state offices had been increased by 150 per cent, effective July 1, 2026.
The measures were highlighted as part of the commission’s efforts to improve working conditions and strengthen the capacity of its personnel as election preparations intensify.
State officials submit preparedness reports
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State welcomed the INEC chairman, National Commissioners, other RECs and representatives from the six states in the geopolitical zone.
The REC described the meeting as an opportunity to examine existing preparations and address unresolved challenges before Election Day.
The commissioner stressed that credible elections require more than announcements and administrative directives, pointing to the importance of adequate logistics, trained personnel, functional technology, security coordination and continuous voter education.
The REC also called for stronger cooperation between INEC headquarters and its state offices, alongside measures to encourage the participation of women, young people and persons with disabilities.
In her presentation, the Director of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs Helen Ajayi, said the assessment would examine operational readiness, staff motivation, logistical difficulties and progress made by relevant departments.
She explained that reports from the six states would cover security, training, voter education and stakeholder engagement, while departmental updates would address PVC collection, voter registration, information technology, human resources and election operations.
Ajayi also highlighted Electoral Risk Management as a tool for identifying areas vulnerable to potential electoral disruptions and supporting preventive measures.
She urged Electoral Officers and other field personnel to cooperate with assessment teams and maintain effective communication with the Planning and Monitoring Department.
Representatives of the six states subsequently presented reports on their preparations, identifying progress recorded, outstanding responsibilities and challenges requiring attention.
The zonal meeting forms part of INEC’s nationwide effort to assess readiness for the 2027 general elections and improve coordination across its offices.
The commission’s ability to address the identified challenges, maintain accurate voter records and ensure effective deployment of personnel, technology and materials will be central to its preparations for the forthcoming polls.
About The Author
