From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, has emphasised the importance of credible elections in Nigeria which he said is the ensuring way to national security.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS), at the NAF Club, Abuja, Amupitan noted that elections and security are two sides of the same coin, and that a secure environment is necessary for the conduct of free and fair elections.
He highlighted the challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral system, which includes malpractices, threats of violence, and vote trading, that undermine the confidence of the electorates and pose risks to national security.
He also Emphasised the need for stakeholders, including INEC, security agencies, civil society, and the electorate, to work together to fortify the systems that underpin elections.
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The INEC Chairman announced that the Commission is committed to conducting a fair, free, and credible election in 2027, with the Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for February 6, 2027. Adding that, the commission is taking steps to enhance the credibility of the electoral process, including voter education, technological integration, and robust security frameworks.
Amupitan also highlighted the importance of addressing voter apathy, which he described as a security risk, and urged Nigerians to participate in the electoral process. He stated that a vote cast is a brick laid in the wall of national security, and that credible elections foster public trust in governance, which is crucial for national security.
The Professor of Law equally outlined several key areas that need to be focused in order to enhance the credibility of the electoral process. These, he pointed to voter education and enlightenment, technological integration, robust security framework, promoting inclusivity, and eliminating electoral vices and malpractices.
He however, assured Nigerians that INEC is committed to a fair, free, and credible election, and that the commission is working to ensure that the 2027 general election is a test of the country’s institutional resilience. Urging all stakeholders to work together to ensure that the election is peaceful and credible, and that Nigeria emerges stronger and more stable.
This comes as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general election, and as the country faces several security challenges, including insurgency and communal strife. The speech is seen as a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to ensure that the election is credible and peaceful, and that Nigeria’s democracy is strengthened.
