The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has assured Nigerians that the 2027 General Election will be free, fair, transparent and driven by technology, warning that the Commission will not tolerate misconduct in the electoral process.
Amupitan gave the assurance in Lagos during the 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat of the Commission, held from January 9 to 10. He said INEC was positioning itself to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving electoral environment and the growing expectations of the electorate.
“We gather here today not merely as electoral administrators and leaders, but as the custodians of the will of the Nigerian people,” he said. “This retreat serves as a bridge between our institutional experience and the innovative demands of a rapidly evolving electoral landscape.”
The INEC chairman commended staff of the Commission for their conduct during the November 2025 Anambra State governorship election, describing it as a defining moment early in his tenure. He said the performance demonstrated the Commission’s capacity to deliver credible elections when processes and personnel align with institutional values.
Looking ahead, Amupitan said preparations for the 2027 General Election would pass through key electoral milestones, including the February 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and the off-cycle governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states.
“These elections are not just routine exercises; they are the testing grounds for our resolve and our readiness,” he said, noting that they would allow the Commission to refine its technical and logistical systems ahead of 2027.
He outlined five non-negotiable pillars that would guide INEC’s work: free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections. According to him, the Commission is committed to organising polls free from interference, fair to all political actors, credible both locally and internationally, transparent in all processes, and inclusive of all Nigerians, regardless of physical ability or location.
Amupitan placed particular emphasis on young voters, noting that millions of first-time voters expected to participate in 2027 would demand openness and real-time transparency.
“These are digital natives who have little patience for opacity. It is our duty to prove to these tech-savvy and often sceptical young voters that INEC can be trusted,” he said.
On the legal framework, the INEC chairman stressed strict compliance with the law. “Under my leadership, the rule of law is not a suggestion; it is our operating system,” he declared.
He disclosed that the retreat would deliberate on 17 thematic areas, including logistics, voter registration, ad-hoc staff management, transportation, election security and political party administration. He added that issues such as continuous voter registration, revalidation exercises and internal party democracy would receive close attention.
Amupitan warned that breaches of INEC’s values would attract sanctions, stressing that there was no room for misconduct. He expressed optimism that the Commission could redefine Nigeria’s electoral history.
“The 2027 General Election must be a watershed moment. Let it be said that under our watch, INEC became the best Election Management Body in Africa,” he said.
Earlier, the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, described the retreat as a significant milestone in the Commission’s evolution. He said public expectations of the electoral process were higher than ever and urged officials to rise to the challenge through early planning, strategic coordination and institutional cohesion.
