INEC Moves to End Late Arrival of Election Materials, Reviews BVAS Threshold, Seeks Royal Fathers’ Support in Rivers

INEC Moves to End Late Arrival of Election Materials, Reviews BVAS Threshold, Seeks Royal Fathers’ Support in Rivers

By Our Reporter

Port Harcourt (Core Reporters) The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, has assured Nigerians that the delays that marred the delivery of election materials in previous elections will not be repeated in the 2027 General Election.

Prof. Amupitan gave the assurance on Friday 30th October, 2026, during a courtesy visit to the palace of the King and Paramount Ruler of Port Harcourt, His Royal Majesty, Barr. Uchechukwu Isaiah Elikwu, Eze Epara Rebisi XII, in Rivers State.

He said the Commission was taking steps to ensure the timely delivery of materials to polling units across the country.

“The era of the past, when elections were supposed to start by 8:30am but materials sometimes arrived very late, must come to an end,” he said.

The visit formed part of the Commission’s fifth-leg Readiness Assessment Tour of the South-South region ahead of the 2027 General Election. The tour is aimed at evaluating operational readiness and securing the support and cooperation of traditional rulers for a successful electoral process.

Prof. Amupitan explained that the Commission’s presence in Rivers State and across the zone was focused on assessing field personnel preparedness down to the Registration Area (Ward) level.

The INEC Chairman also disclosed that the Commission was working to improve its electoral technology and logistics.

According to him, the voter threshold for deploying additional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines had been reduced from 1,250 to 850 voters per polling unit.

Prof. Amupitan stressed that the strength of Nigeria’s democracy lay at the grassroots, noting that the true practice of democracy took shape within local communities and at polling units.

“We realise that the true dynamics of democracy are shaped in the field, within our local communities, across riverine channels, at Registration Area Centres and at the polling units where citizens exercise their sovereign right,” he said.

He said the Commission had, in every geopolitical zone visited so far, prioritised direct engagement with traditional rulers.

“The Commission has made it a priority to interface directly with top traditional rulers, recognising that royal fathers are the ultimate anchors of grassroots peace, civic engagement, and community stability,” he stated.

The Chairman recalled that the Commission had so far engaged the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, and the Ataoja of Osogbo, His Royal Majesty, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji Olanipekun, Larooye II, both in Osun State.

He added that the Commission had also visited the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, in Lagos State, and the Emir of Zazzau, His Highness, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, in Zaria, Kaduna State.

Others, he said, were the Ogadagidi I of Edem-An Ogwugwu Ancient Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State, and the Emir of Gombe, HRH Dr. Abubakar Shehu III, CFR, in Gombe State.

Prof. Amupitan called on the royal fathers to use their influence to encourage residents to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and turn out to vote in 2027, noting that traditional rulers had a significant role to play in mobilising the people and strengthening the democratic process.

“We appeal to Your Majesty to help galvanise and mobilise the great people of Port Harcourt to support INEC and pray for INEC,” he said.

The INEC Chairman further urged the monarch to help educate citizens on the dangers of misinformation and disinformation, particularly through social media and artificial intelligence, which he described as a threat to democracy.

He urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing it, while reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, credible, inclusive and transparent elections in 2027.

In his response, the Paramount Ruler, Eze Epara Rebisi XII, assured the Commission of the support and cooperation of traditional rulers, while urging it to remain steadfast, fair and impartial in the discharge of its responsibilities.

He said the traditional institution was committed to mobilising residents for PVC collection and participation in the election.

“Do the right thing, and we assure you of our support. We will mobilise our people to collect their PVCs and come out to vote. We assure you of our unflinching support,” he said.