The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has completed nine of the 14 activities on its timetable for the 2027 general elections, as preparations for the polls gather pace.

The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, represented by the National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Dr Mohammed Haruna, disclosed this at a youth engagement programme in Abuja on Wednesday.

The event, tagged “The Electorate: A Youth Dialogue with INEC”, was organised by Yiaga Africa, the Global Shapers Community Abuja (GSA) and Enough is Enough Nigeria under the theme, “Let’s Talk About the 2027 Elections”.

Haruna said the commission had made significant progress in implementing its electoral timetable, which covers activities ranging from the announcement of elections and political party primaries to the publication of the voters’ register and candidates’ lists.

He described the voters’ register as a critical component of the electoral process, explaining that it would form the basis for accrediting eligible voters on election day.

He added that the publication of candidates nominated by political parties for various elective positions was among the activities already completed.

Haruna acknowledged that the initial publication of candidates’ names had generated complaints from some political parties over alleged omissions and discrepancies.

He said INEC had invited the affected parties to submit petitions, adding that the commission was working to resolve the complaints and finalise the candidates’ list.

According to him, the commission had increased the frequency of its meetings as the elections approached to assess preparations and take necessary decisions.

Haruna also explained INEC’s organisational structure, comprising a chairman and 12 national commissioners responsible for policy decisions, as well as resident electoral commissioners serving across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He further outlined the process for appointing national commissioners, which involves nomination by the President, consideration by the Council of State and confirmation by the Senate.

Speaking at the event, the Programme Manager for Governance at Yiaga Africa, Yetunde Bakari, called for deliberate efforts to ensure that young Nigerians could participate safely and meaningfully in the 2027 general elections.

Bakari said young people were not merely spectators in the electoral process but also voters, candidates, community mobilisers and stakeholders in the country’s democratic future.

Citing findings from Yiaga Africa’s voting intention survey, she said 84 per cent of Nigerians surveyed were likely or very likely to vote in the 2027 elections.

However, she noted that 61 per cent of respondents feared that electoral violence could prevent them from voting.

She added that only 40 per cent of young respondents said they were very likely to participate in the elections, describing the finding as a concern that required the attention of electoral stakeholders.

Bakari stressed that encouraging young people to vote would not be enough without creating conditions that made their participation safe, accessible and worthwhile.

She welcomed INEC’s early preparations, including online voter registration, printable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), planned nationwide mock accreditation exercises and efforts to strengthen the governance of electoral technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

She, however, said the commission’s preparedness must be evident to citizens, stressing that public confidence could only be earned through transparency, effective communication and credible electoral processes.

Bakari urged INEC to communicate clearly with voters whenever technical or operational problems occur, ensure transparency in the use of AI and make adequate provisions for eligible voters in hard-to-reach communities.

She also encouraged young Nigerians to seek reliable information, reject electoral violence and misinformation, and hold elected officials accountable beyond election day.