100 Days To 2027 Election: INEC Voter Register Hits 103m As Tinubu, NDC, APC, ADC Intensify Moves

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Nigeria’s 2027 general election is now 100 days away as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, yesterday flagged off the final countdown to the polls at a World Press Conference and National Stakeholders’ Meeting.

 

The meeting, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, was chaired by INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN. It brought together leaders of political parties, security agencies, civil society organizations, the media and international observers.

Professor Amupitan disclosed that the National Register of Voters now stands at over 103 million after the three phases of Continuous Voter Registration produced 10,772,421 new voters. This is a major leap from 93.4 million voters in the 2023 election.

He announced that the register will be displayed for claims and objections from October 9 to 15, 2026, while collection of Phase One Permanent Voter Cards will commence today at Local Government centres nationwide. He also said 57,000 new BVAS devices are in advanced production stage and recruitment of 1.4 million ad hoc staff via INECPRES portal will close on November 18.

Political activities have intensified in the last 24 hours with fresh realignments and allegations.

In Taraba State, ex-militant leader and Chairman of Tantita Security Services, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has declared open support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid and donated 25 campaign vehicles to the Tinubu Support Group in Jalingo, saying the President has stabilized the economy and secured the Niger Delta.

In Rivers State, Adamawa Governor Ahmadu Fintiri held a closed-door meeting with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike in Port Harcourt on Sunday as part of high-level consultations ahead of the polls.

In a major trending development on Wednesday, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, claimed on Channels Television that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has lost 25 percent of his key supporters who backed him in 2023, while Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate Peter Obi has lost 55 percent of his base. The NDC has dismissed the claim as propaganda.

The NDC, which is now flying the Peter Obi and Rabiu Kwankwaso ticket for 2027, is intensifying its campaign. The party held town-hall meetings in Kaduna and Port Harcourt this week, promising to prioritize security, jobs, poverty reduction and education. Its National Leader, Senator Seriake Dickson, has insisted that NDC will go into the election as NDC and will not merge into any coalition, although it remains open to collaboration.

Also trending, NDC chieftain Buba Galadima on Tuesday alleged on Arise TV that the APC is offering N50 million to State Assembly candidates and N200 million plus cars to House of Representatives candidates to forfeit their tickets. He alleged that a woman from Zamfara State is sharing the money in a hotel in Abuja after a meeting with APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda. APC is yet to respond to the allegation.

On the labour front, the Trade Union Congress, TUC, on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to raise workers’ salaries to N400,000, arguing that government can afford it, while the Federal Government averted a fresh university strike after paying eight months SSANU salary arrears.

ADC National Chairman, former Senate President David Mark, also vowed on Wednesday in Abuja that the party will resist any attempt to rig the 2027 elections.

Meanwhile, the Makinde-Daura Presidential Campaign Organisation under APM has asked INEC to clarify the status of unclaimed PVCs, while security agencies have assured Nigerians of adequate deployment of over 300,000 police personnel.

With INEC publishing the final list of governorship candidates on October 10, 2026, and campaigns expected to commence officially in November, Nigerians are watching closely as the 100-day countdown begins.