From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, on Monday said, the Commission’s National Zonal Physical Assessment Tour has reached the South-East as part of preparations for the 2027 General Election.
Amupitan who stated this in Enugu during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council and Chairman of South-East Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH Igwe Sir Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, noted that the tour was beginning in the zone with homage to traditional institutions as an essential administrative protocol and a deeply cherished tradition.
He said the Commission has made it a priority to interface directly with top traditional rulers who are “anchors of grassroots peace, civic engagement and community stability,” citing previous engagements with the Ooni of Ife, Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba of Lagos and Emir of Zazzau.
The INEC Chairman said the South-East visit is focused on auditing operational readiness and evaluating field personnel preparedness down to Registration Area level, following operational tests including three off-cycle governorship elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun, one FCT Area Council poll and 16 bye-elections which helped refine logistics and technology deployment.
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He recalled the recent World Press Conference in Abuja to mark 100 days to the first ballot and reaffirmed election dates, with Presidential and National Assembly polls on Saturday, January 16, 2027 and Governorship and State Houses of Assembly polls on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
During his visit to the royal fathers, he told them that while INEC manages technical aspects, “the moral authority to ensure peaceful voting, resides within our traditional institutions”, he therefore sought their support in this three areas: grassroots PVC collection, fight against voter apathy and vote-buying, and promotion of peace and non-violence among parties and youth.
He said the Commission’s collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) was yielding results, disclosing the recent arrest of alleged kingpins behind the kidnapping of NYSC members who serve as ad-hoc personnel, adding that the DSS will arraign those behind these evil acts within the week.
In his response, Igwe Asadu pledged that they will support INEC and also promised to mobilise indigenes who registered but are yet to collect their PVCs to do so, as both sides exchanged kola nuts, ornaments and plaques in keeping with Igbo tradition.
At a separate engagement with INEC staff at the Enugu State headquarters same day, Amupitan equally charged INEC personnel to remain neutral, professional and accountable, warning that the Commission would not tolerate any acts capable of undermining credibility.
“You don’t belong to any political party. and you should not be seen with any politician. You should be seen to be neutral,” he said.
INEC boss said some non-sensitive materials have started arriving, contracts awarded to upgrade facilities, additional BVAS devices ordered and logistics being procured to ensure timely deployment to Registration Area Centres and polling units, while assuring staff of improved welfare with a new salary structure approved to take effect from January 2026.
