Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible election in 2027.
The INEC boss made the remark in Lagos on Friday, while delivering his opening address at the commission’s 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat organised for its leadership and senior officials., the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports.
According to the Agency, the induction/retreat was attended by Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners, as well as administrative secretaries, directors and top management staff across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory.
Amupitan said the commission has a historic opportunity to rewrite the history of elections in Nigeria and set a new benchmark for election management in Africa.
He said, “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.”
According to him, the 2027 elections must be technologically-driven, transparent and beyond reproach.
He added: “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 added that, in pursuing this mandate, INEC must recognise that 2027 would be defined by a new demographic of Nigerians —millions of young citizens who will be approaching the ballot box for the very first time.
Amupitan said that these young citizens are digital natives who demand transparency in real-time and have little patience for opacity.
Amupitan said: “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.”
As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, 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,” Amupitan said.
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