The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), has unveiled a five-point operational blueprint aimed at ensuring transparency, integrity and credibility in the conduct of the 2027 General Elections.
Professor Amupitan disclosed this on Friday while delivering his opening address at the 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat for the Commission’s leadership held in Lagos.
The two-day retreat, which runs from January 9 to 10 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, brought together National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners and senior management staff for strategic alignment and early planning ahead of the 2027 polls.
Describing the framework as non-negotiable, the INEC Chairman said the five-point blueprint would guide all electoral preparations and operations, stressing that the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral process must not be compromised.
Professor Amupitan, who assumed office on October 23, 2025, commended INEC staff for their professionalism during the Anambra State off-cycle governorship election held on November 8, 2025, describing the exercise as peaceful and well-conducted. According to him, the election provided an early test of the Commission’s systems under his leadership.
Looking ahead, he disclosed that INEC is preparing for key electoral activities in 2026, including the Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections scheduled for February, as well as the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
He said the elections would serve as critical opportunities to fine-tune core operational systems such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), Continuous Voter Registration, voter register management, logistics coordination and personnel deployment.
Amupitan emphasised that winning the confidence of young Nigerians remains central to INEC’s strategy, noting that millions of first-time voters expected to participate in the 2027 elections are digitally savvy and demand transparency, speed and accountability.
“The emerging generation of voters has little tolerance for opacity. Our processes must be open, verifiable and trustworthy,” he said.
The INEC Chairman reaffirmed the Commission’s strict adherence to the Electoral Act 2022 and all relevant amendments, describing the rule of law as INEC’s guiding principle. He warned that any form of misconduct, whether by omission or commission, would attract appropriate sanctions.
During the retreat, participants engaged in discussions across 17 thematic areas, including election security, ad-hoc staff management, logistics challenges, inter-agency collaboration, internal party democracy, political party financing and stakeholder engagement.
Professor Amupitan stressed the need for stronger institutional cohesion, leadership development and early coordination across departments, noting that rising public expectations require the Commission to operate as a unified, purpose-driven organisation.
He added that beyond conducting successful elections, INEC is determined to position itself as Africa’s leading Election Management Body and a global reference point for electoral integrity and technological excellence.
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“The 2027 General Election must be a defining moment for our democracy. Our systems must work, our processes must be transparent, and our outcomes must be beyond reproach,” he said.
The retreat ended with calls for improved internal communication, collaboration and feedback mechanisms as the Commission intensifies preparations for what is expected to be one of Nigeria’s most consequential electoral cycles.
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