The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections as preparations intensify for the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), gave the assurance on Friday in Lagos at the opening of a two-day Induction and Strategic Retreat for newly appointed chairman, national commissioners and resident electoral commissioners.
Prof. Amupitan said the commission is deliberately strengthening its leadership capacity, operational systems and institutional coherence to meet growing public expectations ahead of the 2027 polls. He stressed that early planning, strategic coordination and strict adherence to the rule of law are critical to delivering a credible election.
“While the 2027 General Election is our ultimate destination, there are important electoral milestones we must successfully navigate along the way,” he said, noting that professionalism and integrity must remain the foundation of the entire process.
According to him, upcoming elections such as the February 2026 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council polls, as well as the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, will serve as test runs for INEC’s systems and procedures. These elections, he said, will help refine voter register management, logistics and the deployment of technology, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
The INEC chairman outlined five non-negotiable principles guiding the commission’s work: independence from interference, fairness to all political parties and candidates, credibility in the eyes of Nigerians and the international community, transparency at every stage of the process, and inclusivity to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised.
He also highlighted the growing population of young, first-time voters ahead of 2027, describing them as digitally savvy citizens who demand transparency in real time. He said earning their trust would require systems that are inclusive, technologically sound and beyond reproach.
Prof. Amupitan assured Nigerians that INEC would continue to operate strictly within the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and any subsequent amendments, warning that any compromise of the commission’s established values and procedures would attract consequences.
He explained that the retreat would focus on 17 critical thematic areas aimed at strengthening election management. These include logistics and personnel deployment, Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), election security and inter-agency collaboration, political party regulation, campaign finance transparency, result management and the training of election personnel.
The INEC chairman added that lessons from off-cycle elections, bye-elections and other electoral activities would be shared to further improve the integrity of the voter register, election logistics, personnel training and the Election Result Management System ahead of 2027.
Reaffirming his commitment to staff welfare, Prof. Amupitan said excellence would be demanded, but promised that the commission would provide the tools and enabling environment needed for optimal performance. He urged INEC leadership at all levels to promote teamwork, open communication and institutional cohesion to sustain public trust.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Prof. Ayobami Salami, described the retreat as a significant milestone in INEC’s institutional development, noting that it provides a platform for reflection, strategic alignment and consolidation at a time of heightened public expectations.
Also speaking, the Director of Planning and Monitoring, Mrs. Helen Ajayi, said the retreat was designed to induct new members into INEC’s legal and administrative framework while encouraging experience-sharing among state-level election managers.
