By David Torough, Abuja

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to deploy a real-time operational tracker to monitor preparations for the 2027 general elections across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as the national voter register approaches the 100 million mark.

INEC Chairman, Prof.

Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Monday in Lagos while declaring open a two-day Strategic Operational Workshop for Administrative Secretaries from the states and the FCT.

The new tracker, which is expected to provide the commission’s leadership with instant updates on election preparedness, will monitor areas including logistics, distribution of election materials, recruitment and training of ad hoc personnel, electoral technology and overall state-level readiness.

Amupitan said the initiative would help the commission move away from last-minute responses to election challenges and adopt a more proactive approach to planning.

The workshop is expected to produce a standardised, Excel-based Administrative Secretary Master Operational Tracker Template, which will be linked to INEC’s Election Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) dashboard and Election Project Plan.

According to the chairman, the system will give Resident Electoral Commissioners, Supervising National Commissioners, the Secretary to the Commission and the headquarters immediate visibility into the state of preparations across the country.

He said INEC had previously lacked a dedicated and uniform mechanism for monitoring the operational responsibilities of Administrative Secretaries, adding that the new system would close the gap.

“This will enable us to move from reactive responses to proactive management,” Amupitan said.

He stressed that the tracker was not being designed solely for the 2027 election, but would serve as a permanent operational and onboarding framework for future Administrative Secretaries.

The initiative comes as INEC prepares for what Amupitan described as a critical six-month window before the 2027 general elections. The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6.

Amupitan disclosed that the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, conducted in three phases between August 2025 and July 2026, recorded 10,772,421 new registrants, subject to ongoing Automated Biometric Identification System verification.

He said the National Register of Voters was now approaching 100 million, while assuring that the commission would work to ensure that no eligible Nigerian was disenfranchised because of logistical challenges in the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards.

The chairman said the workshop was reviewing five major operational areas: Continuous Voter Registration and PVC distribution, logistics and election materials management, electoral technology, optimisation of ad hoc personnel, and financial compliance.

He also urged Administrative Secretaries to reject shortcuts and political interference, warning that professionalism, neutrality, discipline and strict compliance with established procedures would be critical to the credibility of the 2027 elections.

Amupitan described Administrative Secretaries as a vital bridge between INEC policy and implementation at the state level, saying they were responsible for institutional discipline, operational readiness, administrative continuity, documentation and the early escalation of emerging challenges.

He urged them to strengthen their knowledge of key electoral technologies, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), IReV, eEC8A, EMSC, CROMS, IOMIS and PFRAS.

The INEC chairman said lessons from recent off-cycle elections, particularly the Osun State Governorship Election, showed that effective logistics, functional technology and administrative discipline could contribute significantly to a credible electoral process.

He said the challenge before the commission was to replicate those standards nationwide.

At a separate South-West zonal interactive meeting and readiness assessment in Lagos on Monday, Amupitan said INEC staff were effectively on the frontline of Nigeria’s democracy and warned that the pressure on the commission ahead of 2027 would be enormous.

“The eyes of 200 million Nigerians, and the world, are fixed on us,” he said.

The meeting marked the beginning of a six-zone tour by the commission to assess its readiness for the 2027 elections. Amupitan said the exercise represented a departure from previous practice in which zonal preparations were largely handled by headquarters directorates.

He said the true test of INEC’s preparedness would be at local government areas, registration area centres and polling units across the country, rather than in meeting rooms in Abuja.

The chairman identified voter apathy, public distrust, misinformation and disinformation as major threats to the 2027 elections, stressing that the competence and conduct of field officers would remain INEC’s strongest defence against false narratives.

He also warned personnel against partisan conduct and administrative negligence, citing Section 26 of the Electoral Act, which requires relevant electoral and security personnel to take an oath of neutrality.

INEC Secretary, Mrs Rose Oriaran-Anthony, said the workshop was designed to ensure that the headquarters and state offices operated from the same Election Project Plan and adhered to common administrative procedures.

She said each state delegation was expected to leave the workshop with a logistics risk register, an ad hoc staff recruitment and deployment plan, a three-month stakeholder engagement plan and the new operational tracker template.

Oriaran-Anthony also urged greater synergy between Administrative Secretaries and Resident Electoral Commissioners, saying the workshop provided an opportunity to identify operational bottlenecks and develop practical solutions.

The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, described the workshop as timely, urging Administrative Secretaries to strengthen coordination, accountability and operational readiness.

The workshop was organised by the Office of the Secretary to the Commission with support from the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria programme, implemented by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI).

Participants included National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners, the Director-General of the Electoral Institute, directors from INEC headquarters and Administrative Secretaries from the 36 states and the FCT.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Bayelsa State, Dr Kojo Sam, has vowed to deliver 100 percent of the votes for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election.

Dr Kojo Sam stated this during a consultative visit by the Chairman of Bayelsa APC, Hon Warman Weri Ogoriba, and members of the State Working Committee at his country home in Okpoama, Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

Kojo Sam, a businessman and philanthropist, declared that he is unwavering in his unalloyed support for President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress and would ensure Bayelsa East is delivered to the President.

He explained that his support for the APC, which dates back to its formation in 2013, is predicated on the ideals and ideological direction of the party, which is geared towards improving the lives of Nigerians.

Dr Kojo commended President Tinubu for his bold economic reforms, which, according to him, are already yielding fruits, with stability in the macroeconomic indices in the country.

He dismissed efforts of opposition parties to make inroads in Bayelsa East, stressing that the people of Bayelsa East, especially in Nembe and Brass, are in full support of President Tinubu’s re-election.

Dr Kojo also applauded Governor Douye Diri for his leadership and peaceful disposition, which has strengthened the APC at the grassroots.

He seized the opportunity to commend Hon Ogoriba for conducting the affairs of the party in a transparent manner, which has given all members a sense of belonging.

‘’Today I have the privilege of hosting the APC Bayelsa State Executive Committee at my country home in Okpoama, Brass. We had a very productive and frank discussion on the future of the party in Bayelsa, strengthening our structures and promoting unity. I commend the leadership of Governor Douye Diri and the party chairman for the inclusive leadership which has strengthened the party. I want to assure the party that in 2027 President Bola Tinubu will coast to victory in Bayelsa East.   

Hon Ogoriba, in his remarks, described Dr Kojo Sam as a critical stakeholder whose support for the APC has been instrumental in the several victories recorded by the party.

According to him, the consultative visit was to appreciate Dr Kojo Sam for his steadfast contributions, commitment and sacrifices towards the advancement of the party and its electoral fortunes.

Hon Ogoriba noted that the APC leadership in the state has total confidence in the ability of Dr Kojo Sam to galvanise the people of Bayelsa East towards the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.

He noted that the visit allowed the party leadership to deliberate with Dr Kojo Sam on strengthening the party at the grassroots, fostering greater unity among party stakeholders.

From Godwin Okah, Abakaliki

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ebonyi State, Chief Stanley Emegha, has warned party stakeholders in Onicha Local Government Area against fractionalization, urging them to unite and work for the party’s victory in all elective positions in the 2027 general elections.

Emegha said the APC could only consolidate its political strength in the council if its leaders and members put aside personal interests, embrace peace and strengthen the party’s structures ahead of the elections.

The APC chairman spoke while addressing stakeholders and leaders of the party from Onicha LGA and the Southern Senatorial District at the party’s state secretariat on Waterworks Road, Abakaliki.

The meeting, attended by serving and former political office holders as well as community and opinion leaders from various autonomous communities in Onicha, reviewed the challenges confronting the party and prospects for the 2027 elections.

Emegha appealed to stakeholders to jettison personal political ambitions capable of causing division, stressing that the APC remained one united and indivisible family.

He said: “There is a need for peace and unity among all our stakeholders. We must put the overall interest of the party above personal political pursuits. There should be no further factionalization because APC is one united family.”

The party chairman also commended APC candidates from Onicha LGA for their efforts in reaching out to the electorate but charged them to intensify their grassroots engagements ahead of the commencement of campaigns.

He said stronger interaction with voters at the grassroots would make mobilisation easier and further strengthen the party’s chances at the polls.

The Chairman of Onicha LGA, Ikechukwu Ogbofia, applauded the state leadership for convening the meeting, disclosing that he had earlier met with stakeholders in the council, where they agreed to work together in peace and unity.

Ogbofia assured the state chairman that similar meetings would be taken to all electoral wards in the council before the commencement of campaigns to consolidate unity among members.

Former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Chigozie Ogbu, who spoke on behalf of Onicha stakeholders, promised that all outstanding issues among party leaders would be resolved amicably.

Ogbu also assured the APC leadership that the people of Onicha would vote massively for all the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.

Former Onicha council chairman, Chidiebere Agwu Uzor, equally declared that the APC had no serious challenger in the local government.

He expressed confidence that the party would secure victory in all positions during the elections.

The meeting subsequently resolved that APC candidates from Onicha should immediately intensify grassroots engagement.

DAILY ASSETS reports that the party leadership explores further measures to strengthen its structures and resolve outstanding concerns ahead of the 2027 polls.