By Our Correspondent

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the procurement of 5,720 election devices, ongoing staff training and infrastructure upgrades across the country.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Anambra State, Dr Queen Elizabeth Agwu, disclosed this while briefing stakeholders on the commission’s preparations for the forthcoming elections, urging eligible voters to verify their registration details, collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in the electoral process.

Agwu said the commission’s preparations covered all 36 states of the federation, stressing that Anambra State was actively participating in the nationwide arrangements to ensure credible elections.

With the countdown to the January 2027 electoral milestone standing at 97 days, she said INEC was committed to providing regular updates on its preparations to keep citizens informed and prevent misinformation.

She called on the media, traditional rulers, community leaders, local government officials and civil society organisations to assist in disseminating accurate information about the electoral process.

According to her, sustained stakeholder engagement would enable residents to obtain information directly from the commission rather than rely on unverified reports.

INEC procures 5,720 election devices
On technological readiness, the REC disclosed that INEC had procured 5,720 additional beavers for distribution to 5,720 designated units across the state.

The equipment is expected to support election operations, with the procurement intended to replace damaged or missing devices and strengthen the commission’s technological capacity ahead of the polls.

She said staff training had also received priority attention, with the majority of personnel having undergone training at different stages.

Agwu described training as a continuous process, emphasising that the commission would continue to invest in personnel to ensure they understood their responsibilities and could operate the equipment effectively.

She added that the commission was upgrading its technological capacity compared with previous electoral cycles.

The REC said the distribution of the devices would proceed as operational arrangements were finalised.

Infrastructure audit completed
Agwu further disclosed that INEC had completed an infrastructural audit across the federation to assess the condition and adequacy of facilities required for election administration.

The exercise covered buildings, offices, storage facilities and other infrastructure supporting electoral operations.

She said the audit identified facilities requiring renovation, construction and improved storage arrangements, adding that contracts had been awarded for some of the necessary works.

Procurement of election materials and vehicles was also ongoing, while previously acquired vehicles were being distributed to support operational requirements.

According to her, the commission was implementing the recommendations of the infrastructure audit, with development works expected to address identified needs across local government areas.

She stressed that effective logistics, adequate storage and the availability of functional equipment were essential to the successful conduct of elections nationwide.

Voters urged to verify registration details
The REC also announced the commencement of the display of the voters’ register for claims and objections, urging residents who participated in the second and third phases of voter registration to visit their registration centres to verify their information.

She said the exercise, scheduled to run from October 9 to 15, would enable registered voters to identify errors in their personal details and request corrections before the register was finalised.

According to her, discrepancies identified during the exercise would be documented and forwarded to the appropriate INEC offices for correction.

Agwu explained that the exercise was particularly important for voters whose PVCs had yet to be printed and issued.

She also disclosed that PVCs arising from transfers, corrections, reprinting and replacement requests were available for collection.

The REC urged affected voters to visit the designated centres to obtain their cards, stressing that possession of a valid PVC remained essential for voting under the current electoral system.

She advised registered voters to keep their cards safe, warning that replacement could take time.

Agwu commended Anambra residents for their participation in previous registration exercises, noting that the accuracy of the voters’ register depended significantly on the quality of information supplied by registrants.

INEC opens recruitment portal
The REC also called on eligible Nigerians interested in working as ad hoc electoral personnel to register through the commission’s designated recruitment portal.

She said applicants seeking deployment to Anambra State could register even while residing elsewhere, provided they indicated their preferred state of deployment and met the commission’s requirements.

Eligible categories, she explained, included qualified former and serving National Youth Service Corps members, federal public servants and students of tertiary institutions who satisfied the stipulated conditions.

Agwu said registration was necessary to ensure that applicants’ details were captured in the commission’s database before deployment.

She urged community leaders and other stakeholders to encourage qualified residents to register, noting that adequate personnel were required to support the electoral process across the state.

Warns political parties against vote-buying
On campaign conduct, Agwu cautioned political parties and candidates against abusive language, personal attacks and the use of private matters to discredit opponents.

She urged contestants to focus on their manifestoes, leadership experience, proposed policies and plans for addressing the needs of the electorate.

The REC said campaigns should provide voters with relevant information to enable them to make informed choices rather than degenerate into character assassination and offensive allegations.

Recalling controversies surrounding campaign conduct during the 2025 governorship election, she warned against a repeat of such incidents during the next electoral cycle.

She also cautioned political parties against vote-buying, describing the practice as an electoral offence and calling on members of the public to assist in identifying and reporting offenders to the appropriate authorities.

Agwu stressed that the responsibility for protecting the integrity of elections could not be left to INEC alone, urging voters, political parties and security agencies to play their respective roles.

She said the commission was monitoring campaign activities, including compliance with applicable regulations governing campaign expenditure.

The REC further urged elected officials and political officeholders to maintain contact with their constituents throughout their tenure and address community needs rather than wait until election periods to seek public support.

Assures stakeholders of credible elections
Agwu expressed confidence in the security arrangements for the elections, saying security agencies had assured the commission of their readiness to protect voters, electoral personnel and election materials.

She maintained that INEC was committed to conducting free, fair, credible, inclusive and conclusive elections without favouring any political party or candidate.

The REC explained that Nigeria’s electoral system remained based on physical voting, with prescribed technological devices used to verify voters’ identities and facilitate the documentation and transmission of results in accordance with established procedures.

She urged political actors and their supporters to avoid actions capable of disrupting voting, counting and the proper recording of results.

Agwu called on the media, traditional rulers, community leaders, local government representatives and civil society organisations to sustain public enlightenment efforts as preparations for the 2027 general elections continue.

She said regular stakeholder briefings would remain a key part of the commission’s information strategy over the coming weeks, ensuring that residents received timely updates on registration, logistics, personnel training and other preparations.

The REC urged all stakeholders to work collectively towards an electoral process in which eligible voters could exercise their franchise freely and electoral officials could discharge their responsibilities without intimidation

The meeting, held at the INEC state office on Friday, was attended by representatives of security and other government agencies, political parties, local government councils, civil society organisations and the media.
Those in attendance included representatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Correctional Service, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the Nigeria Immigration Service, as well as the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly was represented at the meeting, which also attracted political party representatives, representatives of local government mayors, civil society organisations, media practitioners and electoral officers from various local government areas across the state.
The gathering provided an opportunity for INEC to brief stakeholders on preparations for the 2027 general elections and enlist their support in disseminating accurate electoral information, mobilising eligible voters and promoting peaceful and credible elections.