Former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, NPC, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, retd. has described the forthcoming Osun State governorship election as a critical dress rehearsal for the 2027 general elections, urging the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to uphold neutrality and ensure a level playing field for all political parties.
Abdulsalami gave the charge on Friday in Minna, Niger State, while receiving the Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, and members of the commission’s management team during a courtesy visit to his residence.
The elder statesman stressed that the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy depends largely on the electoral body’s ability to conduct transparent, free and fair elections, despite the political pressures that often accompany the process.
He reminded the electoral umpire that public confidence in elections could only be sustained if every political party was treated with fairness and without bias.
“You must do justice to everyone. INEC belongs to all political parties, not to any particular interest. Regardless of the outcome of elections, some politicians will always accuse the commission of bias, but you must remain faithful to your oath of office,” he said.
Abdulsalami acknowledged the enormous responsibility placed on the leadership of INEC, describing the office of the chairman as one of the most demanding positions in Nigeria’s democratic system.
He advised the commission to remain focused on its constitutional responsibilities and avoid distractions from political actors, expressing confidence in the capacity of the current leadership to deliver credible elections.
The former Head of State also disclosed that the National Peace Committee would convene a strategic meeting in Abuja on July 29 ahead of the signing of the Peace Accord for the Osun governorship election scheduled for July 30 in Osogbo.
According to him, the peace accord remains a vital instrument for promoting peaceful campaigns and reducing electoral violence, adding that the committee would continue supporting efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic process.
Earlier, INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan said the commission remained committed to ensuring that every valid vote counts in both the Osun governorship election slated for August 15 and the 2027 general elections.
He explained that the visit to Abdulsalami, as well as former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, was to appreciate their longstanding contributions to democracy, peacebuilding and national stability while seeking their continued guidance and support.
Amupitan commended Abdulsalami’s leadership of the National Peace Committee, noting that its Peace Accord initiative has become an important platform for political stakeholders to publicly commit themselves to peaceful elections.
The INEC chairman reaffirmed that the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections would hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.
He, however, identified frequent pre-election litigation as one of the major operational challenges confronting the commission, revealing that fresh court orders sometimes compel INEC to cancel already printed ballot papers and begin the production process afresh.
Despite these setbacks, he assured Nigerians that the commission would continue to leverage technology and strengthen its electoral processes to deliver credible, inclusive and transparent elections.
Amupitan also appealed to eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, reminding prospective voters that the third phase of the exercise will close on Sunday, July 26.
