The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it cannot guarantee 100 percent perfect elections in 2027.
The Chairman of the commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Sunday at the Citizens’ Town Hall programme tagged, ‘Electoral Act 2026: What it means for your votes and the 2027 elections.’
The commission chairman told Nigerians to manage expectations, adding the INEC would strive for excellence but could not promise perfection.
Amupitan said, “Let me just appeal to Nigerians, because I have noticed now that what Nigerians desire is a perfect election. And INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election.
“However, we may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now. But as far as electronic transmission of results is concerned, I said it before the FCT Area Council that we have the capacity to transmit the results, and that we’re going to transmit the results. The only concern was real-time.”
Presenter Seun Okinbaloye and the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo anchored the programme.
The All Progressives Congress National Chairman, Nentawe Yilwatda, and Labour Party’s Interim National Chairman, Nenadi Usman, former Minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, Senator Ireti Kingibe, among others attended the event.
Whole acknowledging elections as central to democratic governance, Amupitan said voter education and institutional transparency are equally important.
He said, “Election, for that matter, is the lifeblood of democracy. According to Abraham Lincoln, the ballot is more powerful than the bullets. Also, the ignorance of a voter is very inimical to the security of a nation.
“So, that is why we cannot underscore the role of INEC, as well as the civil society, in guaranteeing a transparent and credible election.”
Amupitan revealed that the commission made a case for mandatory transmission of election results during legislative deliberations.
He said, “Now, even talking about the transmission of the results, you will notice that the original provision that came out of the retreat from the National Assembly was not exactly what you have today.
“But when INEC came in, we talked of transmission being mandatory. But let us be sincere and honest. The only problem that we had was how to define what we call real time.”
