The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has charged electoral officials at all levels to ensure that the 2027 general election is not only free, fair and credible, but sets a new continental standard for election management in Africa.
Amupitan gave the charge on Friday in Lagos while delivering the opening address at the Commission’s 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat for National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners and top management staff.
While describing INEC officials as “custodians of the will of the Nigerian people,” Amupitan said the retreat was designed to align experience with innovation as the Commission prepares for what he called a defining electoral cycle for the country’s democracy.
“While the 2027 General Election is our ultimate destination, our journey passes through critical milestones,” he said, pointing to the February 2026 FCT Area Council elections and the off-cycle governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states as crucial test runs.
According to him, the upcoming elections would serve as proving grounds to fine-tune INEC’s processes, including voter register management, logistics, personnel deployment and the integrity of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, ahead of the national polls.
Amupitan outlined five “non-negotiable pillars” guiding the Commission’s mandate: elections that are free from interference, fair to all parties, credible, transparent at every stage, and inclusive of all Nigerians, including persons with disabilities and voters in hard-to-reach areas.
He placed particular emphasis on the growing influence of young voters, noting that millions of Nigerians approaching voting age before 2027 are digital natives with high expectations for transparency and accountability.
“These tech-savvy and often skeptical young voters demand transparency in real time. By getting it right, we are not just conducting an election; we are securing the lifelong trust of Nigeria’s future in the ballot,” he said.
The INEC chairman also emphasized strict adherence to the legal framework governing elections, insisting that the Electoral Act and its amendments would be applied without compromise.
“Under my leadership, the rule of law is not a suggestion; it is our operating system,” he declared, warning that any form of misconduct, whether by omission or commission, would attract consequences.
Over the two-day retreat, participants are expected to deliberate on 17 thematic areas, including election logistics, ad-hoc staffing, continuous voter registration, election security, inter-agency collaboration, and political party regulation, with a focus on internal democracy and campaign finance transparency.
Amupitan said the Commission had a rare opportunity to “rewrite the history of elections in Nigeria,” adding that his vision was for INEC to emerge from the 2027 exercise as the most credible and technologically efficient election management body on the continent.
“Our success in 2027 must be more than a national victory. It must be a continental standard, proof that INEC can conduct a world-class, transparent and technologically driven election beyond reproach,” he said.
He urged officials to use the retreat to break institutional silos, strengthen teamwork and restore public confidence in the electoral process, assuring staff of his commitment to their welfare while demanding excellence, integrity and professionalism.
“The scrutiny will be intense and the work demanding, but together, we must uphold the trust of the Nigerian people and protect the sanctity of their vote,” he said.
