By Charles Maduka
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), has assured Nigerians that the 2027 General Election will be free, fair, transparent and driven by technology, stressing that the Commission will not tolerate misconduct at any level of the electoral process.
Speaking in Lagos at the Commission’s induction and strategic retreat, Amupitan said INEC was positioning itself to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving electoral environment and the high expectations of citizens. He described INEC officials as custodians of the people’s will, noting that the retreat was meant to align institutional experience with innovation and modern electoral realities.
The INEC chairman commended staff for their performance during the Anambra State governorship election, describing it as an important early test of the Commission under his leadership. He added that the build-up to the 2027 polls would include critical electoral activities such as the FCT Area Council elections and off-cycle governorship polls in Ekiti and Osun states, which he said would serve as testing grounds for logistics, technology and preparedness.
Amupitan outlined five core principles that would guide INEC’s operations: elections that are free from interference, fair to all parties, credible locally and internationally, transparent in process and inclusive of all Nigerians, including persons with disabilities and those in hard-to-reach areas. He also highlighted the growing influence of young, first-time voters, noting that their demand for real-time transparency places a greater responsibility on the Commission to earn and sustain public trust.
He further stressed strict adherence to the rule of law, warning that any compromise of INEC’s values or processes would attract sanctions. Amupitan said the Commission had a unique opportunity to redefine Nigeria’s electoral history, expressing confidence that with discipline, innovation and unity of purpose, INEC could emerge as the best election management body in Africa.
The Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor Ayobami Salami, said the retreat was aimed at strengthening leadership capacity and operational readiness, adding that public expectations of the electoral process were higher than ever. He urged officials to embrace early planning, strategic coordination and institutional cohesion as INEC moves steadily towards the 2027 General Election.
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