The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Joash Amupitan, says its goal of conducting free, fair and credible elections that will be a reference point in Africa must be actualised in 2027.
He said this on Friday in Lagos, during the commission’s 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat for its leadership and senior officials.
Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners as well as administrative secretaries, directors and top management staff across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory attended the induction ceremony.
According to him, the commission has a historic opportunity to re-write the history of elections in Nigeria and set a new benchmark for election management in Africa, adding that “the eyes of over 200 million Nigerians and indeed the entire continent are upon us.
“I charge you today to brace yourselves. The work ahead is demanding, the hours will be long, and the scrutiny will be intense.
“We have a golden opportunity to rewrite the history of elections in Nigeria. Our goal is clear: The 2027 General Election must be free and fair and be a watershed moment in Nigeria’s election history.
“But we must aim even higher. I want us to build an institution that is recognised globally.
“Let it be said that under our watch, INEC became the best Election Management Body in Africa —a beacon of integrity, a model of technological efficiency, and a fortress of democratic values.”
He said the 2027 elections must be technologically-driven, transparent and beyond reproach, adding that “it must be a continental standard, a proof-of-concept that demonstrates that INEC can indeed conduct a world-class, technologically-driven, and transparent election that is beyond reproach.
“Our mandate, which we should pursue rigorously, is built on five non-negotiable pillars. We are here to organise elections that are free from any form of interference; fair to all contestants and political parties; credible in the eyes of the global community; transparent in every process, from polling units to result collation; and inclusive of every Nigerian, regardless of physical ability or location.”
He said in pursuing this mandate, INEC must recognise that 2027 would be defined by a new demography of Nigerians —millions of young citizens who will be approaching the ballot box for the very first time.
Amupitan said these young citizens are digital natives who demand transparency in real-time and have little patience for opacity, adding that “it is our duty to prove to these tech-savvy, and often skeptical, young voters that INEC can be trusted.
“By ensuring our systems are inclusive and our technology is beyond reproach, we are not just conducting an election; we are securing the lifelong loyalty of Nigeria’s future to the ideals of the ballot.”
Amupitan reassured that he was particularly committed to the Legal Framework of Elections. “We will navigate the 2022 Electoral Act and subsequent amendments with surgical precision. Let it be known that under my leadership, the rule of law is not a suggestion, it is our operating system,” he said.
