The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, SAN, has warned that preparations for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections must be treated as a critical national security priority, citing emerging threats such as AI-driven disinformation, voter apathy, and insecurity.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies, Amupitan described the recently released election timetable as “not just an administrative roadmap, but a security trigger” that demands proactive coordination among electoral and security stakeholders.
He stressed that credible elections and national security are inseparable, noting that without a secure environment, the will of the people could be undermined.
“Elections and security are not parallel tracks; they are two sides of the same coin of national stability. Without security, the sovereign will of the people is not just threatened, it is silenced,” he said.
The INEC boss identified a “sophisticated triad” of emerging threats to the electoral process, including the volatility of social media, the weaponisation of artificial intelligence for disinformation, and foreign information manipulation.
He noted that these are further compounded by logistical challenges and existing security concerns such as insurgency and communal conflicts.
According to him, the convergence of these threats has deepened public distrust in the electoral system, making it imperative for stakeholders to act decisively to restore confidence.
Amupitan also raised concerns over declining voter turnout, describing it as both a civic and security risk.
He noted that participation had dropped significantly, from 53 per cent in 2011 to 26 per cent in 2023, warning that voter apathy creates a vacuum that could be exploited to delegitimise democratic institutions.
“A vote cast is a brick laid in the wall of national security,” he emphasised.
He disclosed that INEC is strengthening technological safeguards to protect the integrity of the ballot, including the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, which he described as critical tools in combating electoral fraud.
He added that the Commission is also working closely with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, shifting from reactive policing to proactive intelligence-driven coordination.
While commenting on upcoming off-cycle elections, including the Ekiti and Osun governorship polls in 2026, Amupitan stressed the need for seamless collaboration among security agencies, led by the Nigerian Police Force, to ensure the protection of personnel, materials, and voters.
He further assured Nigerians of the Commission’s commitment to delivering free, fair, and credible elections in 2027, noting that continuous voter registration, voter register clean-up, and regulatory reviews are already underway.
“INEC cannot do it alone. Our success depends on collective action. An election is only as good as its logistics and only as peaceful as its security,” he said.
The INEC chairman called on security experts, policymakers, and civil society actors to deepen collaboration, strengthen voter education, and promote inclusivity, stressing that credible elections remain fundamental to Nigeria’s democratic stability and long-term development.
