INEC UNDER SCRUTINY OVER ALLEGED SECRET CREATION OF 453 POLLING UNITS AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTIONS
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has come under fresh scrutiny following allegations that it created 453 additional polling units without publicly announcing the exercise or disclosing details to key electoral stakeholders ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The allegation, contained in an investigative report by SaharaReporters published on November 3, 2026, raises questions about transparency, accountability and the management of Nigeria's electoral infrastructure as political activities gradually intensify ahead of the next general elections.
According to the report, an official document obtained by SaharaReporters indicates that the number of polling units nationwide increased from 176,846 to 177,299, representing an additional 453 polling units.
The document reportedly shows that Delta State's polling units increased from 5,863 to 6,316.
An INEC source cited in the investigation alleged that the exercise was conducted without public disclosure, adding that some senior officials and staff of the commission were reportedly unaware of the development.
The source questioned why an administrative decision with potentially significant implications for electoral participation and voter distribution would be undertaken without publicly communicating the details to political parties, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
QUESTIONS OVER TRANSPARENCY AND LEGAL PROCEDURES
The controversy is particularly significant given INEC's previous nationwide polling-unit expansion exercise in 2021.
At the time, the commission announced the creation of 56,872 additional polling units, increasing the national figure from 119,974 to 176,846.
That exercise reportedly followed extensive consultations with stakeholders, technical assessments and fieldwork across the country.
INEC had explained that the expansion involved converting existing voting points and voting point settlements into full-fledged polling units to improve voter access and reduce congestion during elections.
The latest allegations have therefore raised questions about whether similar consultations, technical assessments and administrative procedures were followed in the reported creation of the additional 453 units.
Under Section 40 of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC has the statutory authority to establish adequate polling units in electoral wards and allocate voters to them.
However, the exercise of that authority must be consistent with applicable legal and administrative requirements and should be sufficiently transparent to sustain public confidence.
DELTA STATE FIGURES RAISE FURTHER QUESTIONS
One of the most significant issues highlighted in the report is the reported increase in Delta State's polling units from 5,863 to 6,316.
The difference represents 453 additional units, although the full geographical distribution of the alleged additions has not been independently established.
The absence of publicly available details identifying the locations, polling-unit codes, wards and local government areas involved makes it difficult for citizens and electoral stakeholders to independently assess the development.
The report also questioned whether the alleged exercise was connected to ongoing constituency-restoration issues, stressing that restoring constituencies and creating additional polling units are separate electoral and administrative processes.
DEMANDS FOR FULL DISCLOSURE
The source cited in the investigation has called on INEC to immediately publish comprehensive details of the alleged 453 polling units.
Among the information demanded are:
- The precise locations and identification codes of the additional polling units.
- The wards and local government areas where they are situated.
- The dates on which they were created.
- The demographic and technical considerations informing the exercise.
- The officials and administrative authorities that approved the decision.
- Evidence of consultations with political parties, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
The source argued that unexplained changes to electoral infrastructure could generate avoidable political disagreements, communal tensions and disputes over the fairness of electoral arrangements.
INEC'S CREDIBILITY AT STAKE
The controversy comes amid separate concerns surrounding the preliminary Register of Voters, following reports of suspicious photographs and questionable entries on INEC's online voter-registration platform.
INEC has acknowledged concerns over suspicious photographs in some voter records and said it was reviewing affected entries and investigating possible technical or procedural lapses.
The commission has maintained that the preliminary register remains subject to verification, claims, objections and corrections before the final certified register is published.
However, the alleged creation of 453 additional polling units presents a separate issue requiring clarification from the electoral body.
As preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum, Nigerians have a legitimate interest in understanding how decisions affecting the country's electoral arrangements are made.
INEC must therefore address the allegations with verifiable documents rather than general assurances.
The commission should clarify whether the 453 additional polling units were actually created, when the exercise took place, where the units are located and the legal and administrative considerations behind the decision.
The credibility of an election begins long before ballot papers are printed. It depends on the transparency of the institutions, records and administrative decisions that determine how citizens participate in the democratic process.
For an electoral commission entrusted with protecting the integrity of Nigeria's democracy, public confidence must be earned through openness, accountability and strict adherence to the law.
The Analyst will continue to monitor developments and any official clarification from INEC.