The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially begun deploying non-sensitive electoral materials to Nigeria’s geopolitical zones in preparation for the 2027 general elections.
​The announcement was made on Thursday, November 12, 2026, during an afternoon briefing at the INEC National Headquarters in Abuja. Speaking on behalf of the Commission, the Acting Chairman, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, confirmed that logistics operations are underway as the electoral body transitions into the operational phase of its election timetable.
Prof. Gumus revealed during the meeting, reported around 5:53 PM WAT, that virtually all non-sensitive materials are ready, with initial consignments already lifted and transported to designated zones on Thursday.
The disclosure took place in Abuja while INEC hosted a delegation from Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on a peer-learning and benchmarking visit. The Kenyan delegation was led by the Kenyan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Isaac Keen Parashina.
Prof. Gumus stood in for substantive INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who is currently in the United Kingdom presenting the Commission’s 2027 preparedness roadmap at Chatham House in London.
According to the Acting Chairman, INEC has already completed nine major scheduled activities leading up to the polls, including a nationwide readiness assessment tour of all six geopolitical zones conducted by Prof. Amupitan that concluded last week.
She further noted that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been printed, with first and second batches dispatched to most states for ongoing collection by registered voters.
Under INEC’s official 2027 timetable, the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, followed by the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections on Saturday, February 6, 2027, with accreditation and voting set to run from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM.
​Meanwhile, sub-national preparations are also advancing. In Osun State, Resident Electoral Commissioner Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola confirmed during a stakeholders’ engagement at the state headquarters in Osogbo on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, that the state office has already begun batching non-sensitive materials for onward distribution to polling units.
​”Right now, all non-sensitive materials are almost ready. In fact, today as we speak here, the non-sensitive materials have been lifted to some zones now,” — Prof. Rhoda Gumus, Acting Chairman, INEC.
​Prof. Gumus urged all eligible Nigerians who have yet to pick up their PVCs to visit their respective local collection centers promptly, emphasizing that possession of the card remains mandatory for accreditation via the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) on election day.
