Muhammad Basheer HotoroINEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, stated this on Friday in Lagos while delivering his opening address at the commission’s 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat for newly appointed national commissioners, resident electoral commissioners (RECs) and senior officials.
According to Amupitan, INEC is determined to conduct free, fair, credible and transparent elections in 2027 that will serve as a reference point not only for Nigeria but for the entire African continent.
“The eyes of over 200 million Nigerians and indeed the entire continent are upon us.
We have a golden opportunity to rewrite the history of elections in Nigeria,” he said.
He stressed that the 2027 general elections must be technologically driven, transparent and beyond reproach, adding that INEC should aim to emerge as the best election management body in Africa.
“Our goal is clear: the 2027 general election must be free and fair and represent a watershed moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey,” Amupitan said.
The INEC chairman outlined five key pillars guiding the commission’s mandate: independence from interference, fairness to all political actors, credibility, transparency in all electoral processes, and inclusiveness for all Nigerians regardless of physical ability or location.
Amupitan noted that the 2027 elections would feature a new generation of voters, particularly young Nigerians who are digitally inclined and demand real-time transparency.
“It is our responsibility to earn the trust of these tech-savvy and often sceptical young voters by ensuring our systems are inclusive and our technology is beyond reproach,” he said.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to strict adherence to the legal framework governing elections, promising that the Electoral Act would be applied with precision.
“Under my leadership, the rule of law is not a suggestion; it is our operating system,” he said, while warning that misconduct by INEC staff would not be tolerated.
Amupitan further disclosed that before the 2027 elections, INEC would conduct several critical polls, including the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections scheduled for February 2026 and the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, which he described as test runs for the commission’s preparedness.
The retreat, attended by commissioners, RECs, administrative secretaries, directors and top management staff from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, will deliberate on 17 thematic areas such as logistics, voter registration, election security, political party regulation and inter-agency collaboration.
In his welcome address, Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, described the retreat as timely and essential for strengthening leadership capacity, strategic alignment and institutional cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He said the programme would enhance operational preparedness and reinforce INEC’s commitment to meeting growing public expectations for credible elections.
