The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has warned that technological innovations alone cannot guarantee credible elections.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, stressed the need for the electoral institution to be accountable, as well as effective legal safeguards and public confidence ahead of the 2027 general election.
Amupitan said credible elections depended on a combination of technological efficiency, operational preparedness, responsible political-party conduct, impartial security agencies and adherence to democratic principles.
The INEC Chairman spoke on Tuesday in Abuja while receiving a delegation of the Economic Community of West African States Network of Electoral Commissions, ECONEC, at the commission’s headquarters.
He said Nigeria’s experience underscored the importance of integrating technological innovation with sound legal frameworks, effective election planning and institutional accountability to strengthen electoral integrity.
According to him, the Electoral Act 2026, which repealed and replaced the 2022 legislation, introduced provisions addressing critical aspects of electoral administration, including electronic transmission of results, voter registration and political-party primaries.
He explained that Section 60(3) of the new Act provides for electronic transmission of polling-unit results while recognising the signed physical result form as the basis for collation and declaration where transmission fails because of communication difficulties.
The INEC chairman said electronic transmission could improve transparency, facilitate public access to electoral information and support independent verification, but its effectiveness depended on reliable equipment, network connectivity, trained personnel and clearly defined operational procedures.
“The effectiveness of technology depends on reliable equipment, connectivity, trained personnel and clear operational procedures,” he said.
Amupitan added that the Act’s provision for a National Electronic Register of Results and the recognition of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, for voter accreditation reinforced the need to preserve electoral records and strengthen accountability.
He said the commission was drawing lessons from the 2023 general election to improve preparations for the next polls, insisting that the 2027 election should not simply repeat the previous exercise but provide an opportunity to address identified shortcomings and consolidate past achievements.
“The success of the 2027 elections will depend significantly on our ability to learn from previous experiences,” he said.
The chairman disclosed that INEC’s published information indicated that Nigeria had more than 93 million registered voters, over 176,000 polling units and 22 registered political parties, with elections to be conducted across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He said the scale and complexity of the exercise required meticulous coordination of personnel and electoral materials, particularly given the country’s diverse geographical conditions, infrastructure limitations, connectivity challenges and varying security situations.
Amupitan said the commission’s preparations included ensuring an accurate voters’ register, timely procurement and testing of electoral materials and technology, training competent and impartial personnel, and strengthening engagement with political parties, civil society organisations, the media and security agencies.
INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.
The chairman also emphasised the need to address disputes involving political-party membership registers, primaries, candidate nominations and party leadership before they escalate into prolonged litigation.
He said INEC was committed to moving from reacting to electoral disputes towards preventive regulation that identifies risks early, promotes compliance with the law and reduces avoidable pre-election litigation.
Amupitan noted that electoral credibility also required a secure and inclusive environment, with security agencies expected to act professionally and impartially to protect voters and electoral materials.
He called for stronger collaboration among electoral commissions, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies and communities to prevent electoral violence, combat misinformation and promote the participation of women, young people, persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons.
The chairman said regional cooperation through ECONEC remained vital to strengthening electoral administration, particularly in sharing expertise on electoral technology, results management, election logistics, personnel training and voter education.
He cited INEC’s participation in the ECONEC Post-Election Follow-up and Needs Assessment Mission to Sierra Leone from September 19 to 26, 2026, as an important opportunity to learn from the country’s electoral reform process ahead of its 2028 general election.
According to him, the experience reinforced the relationship between electoral reforms and political trust, highlighting the importance of transparency, meaningful consultation and commitment to agreed recommendations.
He said INEC remained committed to working with regional partners to strengthen independent electoral institutions, uphold the rule of law and build public confidence in democratic processes across West Africa.
