INEC Chair Promises Free and Fair Elections in 2027, Addresses Past Issues

Professor Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has asked Nigerians to trust him to conduct free and fair elections in 2027. He made this promise during a discussion in London, emphasizing that the commission is working to regain public confidence after the problems faced during the 2023 general election.

Amupitan acknowledged that the 2023 elections damaged trust in INEC due to technical issues that led to incorrect results being reported. He assured that these problems would not happen again, stating that only accurate polling unit results would be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal. He believes this change will help restore trust among citizens.

To prepare for the upcoming elections, INEC plans to conduct a nationwide mock accreditation and voting exercise on November 28, 2026. This event will test the processes for the presidential election and ensure that the systems for voter registration and result transmission are functioning properly.

Amupitan pointed to his successful management of recent off-cycle elections as evidence that he can lead INEC effectively. He highlighted improvements seen in elections in states like Osun and Anambra, where results were declared promptly. He noted that the lessons learned from past elections, especially the 2023 general election, are being used to improve future processes.

To address past issues with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, INEC is investing in climate-controlled storage for equipment and increasing the number of devices available at polling stations. Amupitan also mentioned that funding for the 2027 elections is on track, with most of the budget already received.

He urged young Nigerians to remain engaged in the democratic process and to be cautious of misinformation, which he described as a significant threat to democracy. The presidential and national assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, followed by governorship and state assembly elections on February 6, 2027.