By Gabriel Ameh
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections are progressing steadily, with nine scheduled activities already completed.
The Commission disclosed this on Thursday, November 12, 2026, during a meeting with a delegation from Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which visited Nigeria to study the country’s electoral processes.
INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, who represented the Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, received the delegation at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Gumus explained that Amupitan was away in the United Kingdom, where he was scheduled to present INEC’s preparations for the 2027 elections at Chatham House.
She said the Commission had continued implementing its electoral timetable and was preparing for the next phase of activities ahead of the polls.
According to her, the INEC Chairman recently concluded a tour of Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to assess preparations, identify challenges and develop solutions with relevant stakeholders.
The exercise, she said, ended the previous week and provided the Commission with an opportunity to evaluate the level of readiness across the country.
“We can see from our tour that we are really going towards the election proper,” Gumus said.
INEC Advances PVC Distribution, BVAS Deployment
The National Commissioner disclosed that the production of non-sensitive election materials was almost complete, with some materials already being transported to different geopolitical zones.
She also confirmed that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been produced, with most states receiving the first and second batches.
Collection by registered voters is ongoing, and she urged eligible voters to collect their cards ahead of election day.
Gumus emphasised that voters must possess their PVCs to participate in the elections, making timely collection an important part of preparations.
She further disclosed that training and capacity-building programmes for INEC personnel at the national and state levels were continuing.
Procurement and deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices were also among the activities being undertaken by the Commission to strengthen the electoral process.
INEC Explains Position on Diaspora Voting
On the possibility of Nigerians living abroad participating in the 2027 elections, Gumus explained that diaspora voting was not provided for under the existing electoral law.
She said INEC could not implement diaspora voting without the necessary amendment to the law.
The issue featured in discussions with the Kenyan delegation, which is interested in learning from Nigeria’s electoral experience, particularly as Kenya works to expand voting opportunities for its citizens abroad.
Kenya Seeks Lessons from Nigeria’s Electoral System
Earlier, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Isaac Keen Parashina, who led the visiting delegation, thanked INEC for receiving the team despite its demanding schedule ahead of the elections.
He described the visit as an expression of the strong relationship between Nigeria and Kenya, noting that Kenya is also preparing for its general elections scheduled for August 2027.
“The success of Nigeria remains a great success to Kenya and indeed to the continent,” Parashina said, describing Nigeria as Africa’s biggest democracy.
He explained that the IEBC delegation was in Nigeria to gain insights into the country’s electoral management processes and identify practices that could strengthen Kenya’s own electoral system.
Parashina said Kenya was particularly interested in expanding voting opportunities for citizens living abroad and improving the participation of special interest groups in elections.
According to him, Kenyans living in approximately 12 countries participated in the last general election, while the country is working towards extending the arrangement to about 26 countries.
He explained that diaspora voting was backed by constitutional provisions and court rulings requiring its progressive implementation.
INEC Opens Doors for Electoral Knowledge Exchange
Gumus said INEC had arranged interactive sessions between the Kenyan delegation and directors of its various departments.
The sessions were expected to provide the visitors with detailed information about the Commission’s operations, electoral administration and preparations for the forthcoming elections.
She assured the delegation that INEC officials were available to answer questions and share relevant experiences.
The visit highlights growing electoral cooperation between Nigeria and Kenya as both countries prepare for major national elections in 2027.
For Nigeria, INEC says its immediate priority remains completing the outstanding activities on its timetable, strengthening operational readiness and ensuring that registered voters are prepared to participate in the elections.
