BREAKING: INEC Reveals Where 2027 Ballot Papers Will Be Printed

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that sensitive materials to be used for the 2027 general elections, including ballot papers and result sheets, will be produced locally.

Ireporter Online gathered that the electoral commission has already begun preparations for the forthcoming polls, with attention focused on ensuring that all election materials are produced and secured ahead of the exercise.

Speaking on the preparations, INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna said the commission had inspected a number of local printing companies and was satisfied with their capacity, security measures and ability to handle the production of sensitive election materials.

Haruna explained that ballot papers and result sheets would not be printed too far ahead of the elections because of their sensitive nature. According to him, production would take place relatively close to the election date before the materials are transferred to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for secure storage and subsequent distribution.

He noted that the distribution process would involve relevant stakeholders, including civil society organisations, the media and representatives of political parties, in a bid to ensure transparency.

The national commissioner further disclosed that INEC had commenced the procurement and production of non-sensitive election materials, including ballot boxes, as part of its broader preparations for the 2027 elections.

He added that the commission had also placed orders for other essential electoral equipment, including Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines. Production of banners is also reportedly underway to address anticipated shortages.

Haruna maintained that local printers selected for the production of ballot papers and result sheets possess the required capacity to execute the contracts.

However, he identified the limited timeframe available to the commission as one of the major challenges confronting preparations for the 2027 elections.

According to him, the electoral timetable has become tighter following amendments to the electoral law, which reduced the period available for INEC to prepare for the elections from one year to six months.

Haruna explained that the shorter timeframe has placed additional pressure on the commission compared with the previous general election, when funding was made available early enough to allow for more extensive planning.

He disclosed that INEC had already received part of the funds required for the 2027 elections and was currently working towards selecting suitable printers to handle the various production contracts.

The commissioner also dismissed concerns over the ability of Nigerian printing companies to securely produce sensitive electoral materials, insisting that the firms being considered have adequate security arrangements.

He cited the last general election as evidence that local printers can successfully handle sensitive election materials without compromising the electoral process, noting that the commission did not encounter significant complaints or problems with the printers during the previous exercise.