By Peter Omopo
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 any form of misconduct in the electoral process.
Prof. Amupitan gave the assurance on Friday in Lagos while addressing participants at the 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat of INEC, holding from January 9 to 10. He said the retreat was designed to align the Commission’s institutional experience with the demands of a rapidly evolving electoral environment.
According to him, INEC officials are not only administrators but custodians of the will of the Nigerian people, stressing the need to continually adapt to public expectations.
The INEC chairman commended staff for their conduct of the November 2025 Anambra State governorship election, describing it as a defining early achievement of his tenure. He noted that several elections scheduled ahead of 2027, including the February 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and off-cycle governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states, would serve as critical tests of the Commission’s preparedness.
“These elections are testing grounds for our resolve and readiness, offering opportunities to fine-tune our processes ahead of the 2027 general election,” he said.
Amupitan identified five non-negotiable pillars guiding INEC’s operations: free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections. He said the Commission is committed to organising polls free from interference, fair to all contestants, credible nationally and internationally, transparent in process and inclusive of all Nigerians, regardless of location or physical ability.
He also highlighted the importance of engaging young and first-time voters expected to participate in large numbers in 2027, noting that many of them are digitally savvy and demand real-time transparency.
The INEC boss further emphasised strict adherence to the rule of law, stating that under his leadership, legal compliance would remain the Commission’s operating standard.
He explained that the retreat would focus on 17 thematic areas, including logistics, voter registration, election security, transportation, ad-hoc staff management and political party administration, with a view to strengthening operational efficiency.
Setting the tone for the 2027 polls, Amupitan expressed confidence that the election would mark a turning point in Nigeria’s democratic journey, positioning INEC as a model election management body in Africa. He warned that any violation of the Commission’s principles would attract sanctions.
In his remarks, the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, described the retreat as a significant milestone in INEC’s ongoing reforms. He said the programme was aimed at enhancing leadership capacity, strengthening institutional cohesion and ensuring early planning ahead of the 2027 general election.
Salami urged participants to leverage the retreat for collaboration, knowledge sharing and strategic coordination to meet rising public expectations for credible elections.
