By Tambaya Julius, Abuja 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said Nigeria’s voter register has risen to more than 103 million ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while speaking at a strategic workshop for media executives.

The workshop, themed “Strengthening Democracy Through Partnership Among Editors, Civil Society and Electoral Institutions,” was organised by INEC in collaboration with Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE).

Amupitan said more than 10.6 million Nigerians took part in the commission’s three-phase Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.

He said INEC had completed the public display of the preliminary register, giving citizens an opportunity to raise claims and objections.

The commission, he added, had also concluded the final cleanup of the voter register using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS).

Amupitan announced that nationwide collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would begin on October 9.

He urged Nigerians who registered during the exercise to collect their PVCs and prepare to participate in the 2027 elections.

The INEC chairman also said the commission would continue to improve the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to strengthen the credibility and transparency of the electoral process.

“The ultimate arbiter of electoral integrity is public trust,” Amupitan said.

He called for stronger cooperation among INEC, media organisations, civil society groups and other stakeholders ahead of the elections.

According to him, INEC is prepared to listen to concerns raised by editors, address operational challenges and provide timely information to prevent misinformation from filling communication gaps.

Amupitan said the commission would also give editors direct access to verify field incidents, logistical developments and security reports in real time.

He proposed a sustained editorial feedback mechanism between INEC and the NGE to review the commission’s operational progress and address emerging challenges throughout the 2027 election cycle.

The chairman said closer engagement with the media was important to ensuring that voters receive accurate information, especially during periods of heightened public interest in electoral activities.

Also, DAI Team Leader, Rudolf Elbling, said credible elections depended not only on effective electoral administration but also on professional, ethical and fact-based journalism.

Elbling identified electoral integrity, election technology, the safety of journalists and voters, and information disorder as some of the key challenges facing the media ahead of the 2027 elections.

He said journalists had a critical role in providing voters with accurate information while holding electoral institutions and other stakeholders accountable.

The workshop brought together electoral officials, editors, civil society representatives and other stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and improve public communication ahead of the 2027 general elections.

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

Former President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, has commended the quality, experience and capacity of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates contesting the 2027 elections in the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

Jonathan made the remarks at his residence in Yenagoa when he received a high-powered delegation led by the former Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd.

The delegation visited the former President to formally present the APC candidates to him as a mark of respect and honour, particularly as a former President of Nigeria and a prominent leader from the Bayelsa East Senatorial District.

Presenting the candidates, Rear Admiral Jonah appealed to Jonathan to extend his goodwill and support to them, describing the candidates as individuals with the requisite capacity, experience and character to provide effective representation if elected.

He expressed confidence that they would serve the interests of their constituents and contribute meaningfully to the development of the district and the state.

The candidates presented included HRH. Hon. Israel Sunny-Goli for the Bayelsa East Senatorial District, Hon. Jonathan Robinson Obuebite, PhD, for the Brass/Nembe Federal Constituency and Barr. Jude Amidator Rex-Ogbuku for the Ogbia Federal Constituency.

Also presented were the APC candidates for the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, including Hon. Oteigbanyo George Braah for Nembe Constituency 1, Hon. Edward Brigidi Irigha for Nembe Constituency 2, Hon. Alalibo West for Nembe Constituency 3, Hon. Daniel Charles for Brass Constituency 1, Hon. Timi Agala for Brass Constituency 2 and Rt. Hon. Abraham Ngobere for Brass Constituency 3.

Others were Hon. High Chief Ebiango Okoba Egain for Ogbia Constituency 1, Hon. Godknows Obein for Ogbia Constituency 2 and Hon. Chief Gabriel Michael Ogbara for Ogbia Constituency 3.

Responding to the presentation, Jonathan expressed his appreciation for the quality of the candidates, noting that virtually all of them were people who, in his assessment, could be trusted in terms of capacity, performance and experience.

He gave the candidates his blessings and encouraged them to remain committed to serving their people if elected to office.

The former President urged the candidates to see politics as a means of improving society and attracting positive development to their respective constituencies.

He also admonished them and other stakeholders to sustain peace, unity and oneness in Bayelsa State, which he said remained important to the state’s continued development.

The visit brought together APC leaders, candidates, traditional leaders, youth representatives, and other stakeholders from across the Brass, Nembe, and Ogbia Local Government Areas as part of ongoing consultations and engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections.

From Francis Sadhere, Delta

The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has inaugurated two political support groups in Okpe Local Government Area to mobilise grassroots support for President Bola Tinubu and Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The groups, Concern Otirhue Movement for Sheriff and Tinubu, and Otirhue Progressive Movement for Sheriff and Tinubu, were inaugurated at a ceremony held in Mereje, Okpe LGA.

The groups were founded by the Chairman of the Delta State Local Government Service Commission, Hon.

Speaking at the event, Otirhue said the initiative was aimed at strengthening the party’s grassroots structures and mobilising support for Tinubu, Oborevwori and other APC candidates in the 2027 elections.

He said the groups would mobilise voters for APC candidates contesting seats in the State and National Assemblies, with the ultimate objective of securing victory for the party at all levels.

Otirhue urged members to remain loyal and committed to the APC, while intensifying their engagement with residents and communities across Okpe.

Inaugurating the groups, the Delta APC Chairman, Chief Solomon Arenyeka, charged members to work diligently for the success of the party.

Arenyeka urged them to pursue the APC’s “five-over-five” objective by mobilising support for all the party’s candidates in the 2027 elections.

He also tasked the groups with taking the party’s message to the grassroots and maintaining active structures across the various communities in the local government area.

Other party leaders at the event called for unity and sustained grassroots mobilisation, stressing that continuous engagement with voters would be crucial to the APC’s performance in the 2027 elections.

The event also featured the empowerment of more than 250 beneficiaries by Otirhue, which he described as the fifth phase of his empowerment programme.

According to him, the programme was designed to provide support to party members and other beneficiaries, adding that those who were not included in the latest phase would be considered in subsequent editions.

Among dignitaries at the ceremony were former Minister of Culture and Information, Okakuro Prof. Sam Oyovbaire; Chief Robert Onome; member representing Okpe State Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Okakuro James Augoye; and Chairman of Okpe Local Government Council, Okakuro Hon. Isaiah Esiovwa.

Others included former Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha; Austin Ayemidejor; APC State Secretary, Okakuro Efe Uko; Chairman of the Delta State Civil Service Commission, Chief Rose Amioku; APC State Organising Secretary, Hon. Emmanuel Egbabor; as well as other party leaders and stakeholders.

The inauguration marked another step in the APC’s grassroots mobilisation efforts in Okpe, with members of the two groups pledging to strengthen their structures and mobilise support for Tinubu, Oborevwori and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.