2027: INEC Expunges 1.6m Names From Voters Register, Explains Delay in PVC Distribution

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has removed 1,609,553 records from Nigeria’s national voters’ register following a major verification exercise ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The electoral body also appealed to Nigerians who registered during the third phase of its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise to exercise patience, explaining that the production of their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) was still ongoing outside the country.

INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, SAN, made the disclosures while addressing journalists at a press conference in Abuja.

He explained that the commission’s latest cleanup resulted in the removal of 1,608,660 confirmed invalid registrations and 873 verified deceased-voter records.

Amupitan said INEC was committed to investigating identified irregularities, correcting the problems and strengthening its internal controls.

“The Commission recognises that the detection of irregularities raises legitimate questions about how they arose. The response is evidence-led investigation, completed corrective action and stronger preventive controls.

“1,609,553 records have been removed, comprising 1,608,660 confirmed invalid registrations and 873 verified deceased-voter records. INEC will continue to communicate verifiable aggregate outcomes while protecting personal information and the integrity of ongoing investigations,” he stated.

Why Third-Phase Registrants Are Yet to Receive PVCs

Providing an update on the outstanding PVCs, the INEC chairman said distribution of cards produced during the first and second phases, including transferred cards, was continuing at local government offices nationwide.

He added that some PVCs from the third phase were already being delivered and would be sent to the various states by the following week.

According to him, distribution would resume at Registration Areas across the country from December 1, 2026.

“The distribution of Phases 1 and 2 of the PVC and transferred PVCs is on-going at the various LGAs in Nigeria. Some of the PVC for the third and final Phase are being delivered and they would be dispatched to the States by next week.

“Meanwhile as from 1st December 2026, distribution will go back to the Registration Areas all over Nigeria. We appeal to those that registered in the third pahse to be a little bit patient since the production is done outside the country,” Amupitan said.

According to figures recalled by Vanguard, 2,970,257 Nigerians registered during the third phase before INEC carried out its de-duplication exercise.

ABIS Audit Reveals Manipulation of Voter Records

The removal of the records followed public complaints and scrutiny of irregularities observed in the preliminary voters’ register displayed between October 9 and 15, 2026.

INEC’s subsequent technical examination, conducted with the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), reportedly exposed several forms of manipulation.

Among the irregularities identified were suspicious registration patterns, replacement of photographs and fraudulent multiple registrations.

The exercise also uncovered alleged involvement of some INEC personnel in bypassing established registration procedures.

Amupitan revealed that 54 staff members spread across 10 states were identified for deliberately violating standard operating procedures and exploiting special provisions created for vulnerable citizens, including persons living with disabilities.

He said disciplinary proceedings and possible prosecutions had commenced against the affected officials.

INEC Clarifies Position on ADC and Atiku Dispute

On political developments involving the ADC and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, the INEC chairman insisted that the commission would not act on unverified reports or information obtained from social media.

He said the electoral body was yet to receive the Certified True Copy of the relevant court judgment.

“On ADC/Atiku: as of today, we have not received the Certified True Copy of the court judgment and we don’t act based on what we see on the social media,” Amupitan stated.

INEC Moves to Address Old Registration Errors

The commission also acknowledged that some irregularities predated the latest registration exercise.

It explained that historical records inherited from registration exercises conducted between 2011 and 2023 still contained legacy duplicate entries, despite the cleanup of the 2025/2026 CVR records.

INEC said its board had directed that flagged records from the previous registration cycles be expunged after verification.

As part of preparations for the 2027 elections, the commission also assured Nigerians that biometric safeguards would remain in place to prevent electoral malpractice.

These measures include mandatory physical appearance by voters at polling units and biometric accreditation through the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The system uses fingerprint or facial recognition technology to verify voters and prevent multiple voting and unauthorised accreditation.

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