INEC Releases South-South Voter Figures, Rivers Tops With 3.7m

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that Rivers State leads the South-South geopolitical zone with 3,736,434 registered voters out of a total of 15,823,550 voters across the region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash O. Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, during the Commission’s South-South Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment.

Amupitan stressed that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised through administrative negligence or logistical failure, charging electoral officials to ensure adequate preparations for the forthcoming elections.

He said the readiness assessment was part of the Commission’s field-based approach to evaluating operational preparedness, identifying gaps and strengthening service delivery ahead of the nationwide exercise.

Addressing concerns over suspicious photographs on the preliminary voters’ register published online, the INEC chairman said the Commission was examining the records and would take corrective action based on verified findings.

He urged Nigerians to participate in the display, claims and objections process ahead of the publication of the final voters’ register scheduled for December 15, 2026.

On electoral technology, Amupitan disclosed that the Commission was preparing its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), including 57,000 newly procured devices, while auditing its electronic result management systems to strengthen transparency in result transmission through the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

The INEC chairman also highlighted the logistical challenges posed by creeks, coastal settlements and riverine communities in the South-South, disclosing that the Commission had finalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Maritime Transporters Union to facilitate the timely and secure transportation of election personnel and materials.

On election security, he reaffirmed INEC’s collaboration with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), emphasising intelligence-led planning and the protection of voters, electoral materials and personnel.

He warned that anyone who threatens or attacks INEC officials, including National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed for election duties, would face the full weight of the law.

Amupitan further charged electoral officials across the zone to uphold impartiality, discipline and accountability, warning that partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and financial impropriety would attract disciplinary action.

He also highlighted staff welfare measures introduced by the Commission, including the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), enhanced salaries, hazard and field allowances, as well as a 150 per cent increase in monthly state office overhead allocations, effective July 1, 2026.

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Rivers State welcomed the INEC chairman, National Commissioners, fellow RECs and other officials from the six South-South states, describing the meeting as an opportunity to assess preparedness and address outstanding operational challenges ahead of Election Day.

The REC said credible elections required deliberate planning, adequate logistics, trained personnel, functional technology, effective security coordination and sustained voter education.

He also called for stronger collaboration between the Commission’s headquarters and state offices, as well as inclusive participation by women, young people and persons with disabilities.

In her presentation, the Director of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs Helen Ajayi, said the meeting was aimed at assessing state preparedness, identifying operational and logistical challenges, improving staff motivation and providing departmental updates on preparations for the 2027 general elections.

She explained that situation reports from the six states would cover election security, training, voter education and stakeholder engagement, while departmental presentations would provide updates on voter registration and Permanent Voter Card collection, information and communication technology, human resources and election operations.

Ajayi also highlighted Electoral Risk Management as a tool for identifying and mapping potential electoral risk areas to support preventive planning and security coordination.

She urged Electoral Officers and other field personnel to cooperate with assessment teams and work closely with the Planning and Monitoring Department to ensure effective monitoring of the Commission’s activities and prevent implementation gaps.

Representatives of the six South-South states also presented reports on their respective levels of preparedness, highlighting operational progress, outstanding tasks and challenges requiring attention.

The meeting forms part of INEC’s nationwide operational readiness assessment aimed at strengthening coordination, addressing emerging challenges and ensuring that preparations for the 2027 general elections are completed efficiently and in accordance with the law.