From David Onuoj, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has described Saturday’s legislative bye-elections in four states as crucial operational benchmarks for testing the nation’s electoral infrastructure ahead of the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, stated this while presiding over operations at the Commission’s National Situation Room at its headquarters in Abuja.
Amupitan, who was joined by some National Commissioners and senior management officials, monitored the polls as field reports came in from across the states.
The Commission conducted four legislative bye-elections in Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency in Gombe State, Dawakin Kudu State Constituency in Kano State, Sakwa and Disina State Constituencies in Bauchi State, and Udu State Constituency in Delta State.
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Amupitan stressed that no electoral contest should be dismissed as trivial or routine, noting that every off-cycle poll serves as a dress rehearsal for the general election.
“These four bye-elections provide indispensable operational lessons for the Commission as we systematically chart our roadmap toward the 2027 General Election.
“We must resist the temptation to view any exercise as merely an ordinary bye-election,” he said.
According to him, each exercise allows the Commission to audit its logistics framework, stress-test technological deployment and evaluate administrative field readiness for larger polls.
He therefore, reassured Nigerians of the Commission’s resolve to uphold electoral integrity, adding that operational bottlenecks encountered before polling were swiftly identified and resolved. “Our primary mandate in the Situation Room is monitoring and proactive crisis resolution”.
He thanked the technical team for ensuring seamless monitoring of the multi-state exercise.
