INEC FCT Assures ECOWAS Pre-Election Mission of Readiness for 2027 Polls as Voter Register Hits 1.73 Million
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has reaffirmed its readiness to conduct peaceful, transparent, credible and inclusive general elections in 2027, assuring the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Pre-Election Mission of its commitment to electoral integrity.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for the FCT, Dr. Gabriel Hale Longpet, gave the assurance during a meeting with the ECOWAS Pre-Election Mission at the INEC FCT headquarters in Abuja. He was represented by the commission’s Administrative Secretary, Mrs. Abimbola Oladunjoye.
During the meeting, Longpet disclosed that Nigeria’s national voter register had reached approximately 103 million following the addition of more than 10 million new registrants, with the FCT accounting for about 1.73 million registered voters.
He explained that the commission’s preparations for the 2027 general elections cover critical areas, including electoral planning, voter registration, personnel training, logistics, election technology, security coordination, transparency and inclusive participation.
The REC also emphasised the importance of ensuring that women, young people and persons with disabilities are adequately represented in the electoral process. He noted that timely public communication would be essential in combating misinformation and strengthening public confidence in the elections.
Longpet further highlighted INEC’s efforts to strengthen its institutional capacity through improved planning, monitoring and reporting. According to him, the establishment of dedicated planning and monitoring departments across the 36 states and the FCT is intended to enhance compliance with electoral timelines and improve operational efficiency.
Speaking on behalf of the ECOWAS mission, its leader, Victor Bockarie Foh, explained that the visit was part of the regional organisation’s responsibility under Article 13 of the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance to assess electoral preparations in member states ahead of elections.
He stated that the mission would examine the legal framework governing the elections, assess the conditions under which they would be conducted, and engage relevant authorities and political stakeholders to evaluate the level of preparedness.
The engagement also provided an opportunity for the mission to discuss INEC’s operational priorities, identify possible challenges and explore measures that could support the successful conduct of the 2027 general elections.
The ECOWAS delegation included Francess Piagie Alghali, the organisation’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; Julius F. Sandy, Sierra Leone’s High Commissioner and Permanent Representative to ECOWAS; and representatives of the ECOWAS Commission, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), and the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC).
As preparations intensify, the engagement underscores the importance of regional cooperation, institutional readiness and stakeholder participation in strengthening Nigeria’s democratic process.
With the 2027 elections approaching, INEC’s ability to maintain an accurate voter register, deploy election technology effectively, coordinate security arrangements and ensure inclusive participation will remain central to delivering credible polls.
