The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has warned staff of the commission against deliberate errors, negligence and administrative failures capable of compromising the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan gave the warning on Friday during an interactive meeting with INEC personnel from the North Central zone in Lokoja, Kogi State, as part of efforts to assess the commission’s level of preparedness for the forthcoming nationwide elections.
He charged electoral officials to uphold professionalism, neutrality, accountability and efficiency, insisting that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised because of poor planning, logistical shortcomings or administrative negligence.
Acknowledging the security and geographical challenges confronting the commission, particularly in difficult terrains, the INEC chairman maintained that delivering credible elections required the commitment and collective responsibility of all staff.
He cautioned personnel against avoidable mistakes, stressing that the success of Nigeria’s electoral process would have implications beyond the country’s borders.
According to him, a credible election in Nigeria would strengthen democratic institutions across Africa and reinforce the continent’s confidence in democratic governance.
Amupitan said electoral credibility could not be achieved through last-minute preparations or mere assurances, but through sustained planning, adherence to professional ethics, technological investment, improved staff welfare and efficient administrative procedures.
He disclosed that the 2027 general election would involve more than 103 million registered voters and 176,846 polling units across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
He therefore urged staff not to rest on their achievements in previous off-cycle elections, including those conducted in Anambra, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and the FCT.
The chairman said the commission was determined to improve on its previous performances, particularly in the areas of technical operations, election management and overall efficiency.
He commended electoral officers and other personnel who participated in previous elections, noting that many had put their lives at risk to ensure the successful discharge of their responsibilities.
Describing the North Central zone as strategically important to Nigeria’s electoral process, Amupitan disclosed that the region had 15.44 million registered voters, with Kogi State alone accounting for more than 1.93 million.
He noted that Kogi’s geographical position and boundaries with 10 states across four geopolitical zones made it a critical operational centre for the commission.
On voter education, the INEC chairman called on the commission’s publicity and voter education departments to intensify public enlightenment campaigns ahead of the elections.
He expressed concern over the spread of fake news, manipulated videos and misleading information on social media, warning that such developments could erode public confidence in the electoral process.
Amupitan urged Nigerians to verify information before sharing it, maintaining that not everything circulated on social media should be accepted as factual.
He added that operational failures, including late arrival of electoral officials, technical glitches and misconduct at polling units, could create opportunities for misinformation and disinformation.
On election security, he said INEC was strengthening its partnership with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to guarantee the safety of voters, electoral personnel and election materials.
He further disclosed that the commission had deployed Election Risk Management tools to identify vulnerable locations across the North Central zone, with the findings to be shared with security agencies to facilitate proactive security deployment.
The INEC chairman also revealed that intelligence-led operations had foiled alleged plans by criminal elements to attack and abduct ad-hoc electoral personnel, particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
According to him, suspected masterminds behind the plot had been arrested and charged to court through the intervention of the Department of State Services (DSS).
He warned that anyone who threatened or attacked electoral officials would be made to face the full consequences of the law.
On the voters’ register, Amupitan assured Nigerians that the commission was addressing identified irregularities and working towards publishing the final register on December 15, 2026.
He explained that the ongoing claims and objections exercise was intended to identify and correct discrepancies, while efforts were also underway to revalidate the register and resolve inherited anomalies.
The INEC boss equally stressed the importance of discipline and political neutrality among staff, warning that any official found guilty of misconduct would face appropriate sanctions, while exceptional performance would be rewarded.
He disclosed that the commission had introduced several structural and welfare reforms, including the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), improved salaries, hazard and field allowances, increased overhead allocations to state offices and enhanced Duty Tour Allowances.
The reforms, which took effect on January 1, 2026, were designed to improve staff motivation and operational effectiveness, although some approved benefits were still awaiting cash backing.
Other initiatives, he said, included improved office infrastructure, a proposed staff housing scheme, severance benefits for retiring personnel and the procurement of additional operational vehicles, including 500 pickup trucks for logistics operations across the states.
Amupitan charged staff to remain faithful to the Electoral Act and their oath of neutrality, describing electoral personnel as the critical link between the provisions of the law and the actual delivery of democratic governance.
He subsequently declared open the North Central Zone Interactive Staff Meeting and 2027 General Election Readiness Assessment, expressing optimism that the commission would deliver credible and better-managed elections in 2027.
