INEC Pledges Most Credible Election in Nigeria’s History as 2027 Poll Preparations Intensify

The chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general elections will surpass all previous polls in credibility, transparency, and technical efficiency. He made the commitment on Sunday during a Citizens’ Townhall on the 2026 Electoral Act held in Abuja.

Speaking confidently about reforms underway, Amupitan declared that the upcoming election would mark a new chapter in Nigeria’s democratic evolution. “By the grace of God, the 2027 election will be the best Nigeria has ever had,” he said. According to him, the electorate is now more enlightened and aware of how directly governance outcomes are shaped by credible elections.

Amupitan stressed that INEC is determined to rebuild public trust, noting that political legitimacy and national development thrive when citizens have confidence in both the electoral umpire and elected leaders. He also acknowledged that Nigerians are dissatisfied with the nation’s underdeveloped economic status, insisting that stronger electoral processes would contribute to long-term progress.

Identifying persistent logistical challenges—including result collation and nationwide movement of personnel and materials—the INEC chairman said the commission is working intensively to strengthen these areas before next year’s vote. “Result management and logistics are two basic issues we’re trying to manage effectively to enhance transparency and credibility,” he explained.

One major reform ahead of the 2027 polls is INEC’s plan to conduct a mock presidential election to fully test the transmission infrastructure before the actual vote takes place. The trial run, Amupitan said, would ensure seamless electronic transmission across state lines—a key issue that sparked controversy during the 2023 presidential election when INEC reported a transmission “glitch.”

Assuring Nigerians that the problem had been resolved, Amupitan stated: “Regarding the glitch that was blamed for issues in 2023, let me be clear: the glitch is eliminated. It will not surface again.” He revealed that an internal audit showed that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) performed well in smaller state elections such as Osun and Ekiti, it had not been sufficiently tested for nationwide presidential-scale deployment.

Citing recent improvements, he noted that the last Federal Capital Territory (FCT) elections saw no transmission failures aside from minor delays, adding that even in rare cases where connectivity fails, results must still be transmitted as a legal requirement.

INEC has faced criticism in recent years, with opponents alleging bias in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Amupitan, appointed last year to replace Mahmood Yakubu, has repeatedly promised to restore neutrality and public confidence in the institution.

Last week, the commission unveiled the revised timetable for the 2027 elections. Presidential and National Assembly polls will now hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are scheduled for February 6, 2027.

With one year to go, INEC says it is fully committed to ensuring that Nigerians head to the polls under the most credible electoral environment the country has ever experienced.