Nigeria’s preparation for the 2027 general elections has entered another important phase after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced the removal of more than 1.6 million invalid entries from its preliminary voters’ register.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, disclosed that a total of 1,609,553 records had been removed following the commission’s verification exercise and complaints received from members of the public.
According to the commission, 1,608,660 confirmed invalid registrations were removed, while 873 records belonging to verified deceased persons were also deleted.
The exercise followed the display of the preliminary voters’ register across the country between October 9 and 15, allowing Nigerians to identify questionable entries and submit complaints.
INEC also revealed that 54 individuals across 10 states had been identified as being involved in irregularities during the registration process. The commission said disciplinary action, including possible prosecution, would follow.
The final voters’ register is scheduled for publication on December 15, 2026.
The announcement has generated fresh interest in the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral process, especially as political parties intensify their preparations for the presidential election.
INEC has also advised voters who recently relocated and re-registered to check their previous registration locations if they cannot find their names at their new locations.
With millions of Nigerians expected to participate in the election, the commission’s next challenge will be ensuring that genuine voters are not wrongly excluded.
