…even as INEC set to deploy 1.4million adhoc staffs
From David Onuoja, Abuja
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured Nigerians and international partners of its commitment to deliver a free, fair and credible general election in 2027, as it scales up logistics to deploy 1.4 million ad-hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide.
Speaking on Tuesday, while receiving a Pre-Election Assessment Mission (PEAM), delegation from the International Republican Institute (IRI), at INEC headquarters in Abuja, the Chairman of the Commission, Professor Josh Amupitan, said the timing of the visit was strategic.
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The IRI team, who was led by Ambassador Jendayi Frazier, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, arrived in Nigeria on August 11 and will remain until August 21.
Prof. Amupitan in his speech noted that the country, had just concluded a major off-cycle test with the Osun State Governorship Election, held last Saturday, 15th August 2026. Added that Wednesday, 19th August 2026, would mark the statutory commencement of public campaigns for the 2027 General Election, placing INEC at the threshold of full national preparations.
The INEC Chairman said off-cycle elections in Ekiti, Osun and several legislative by-elections in the past year, served as “live operational stress tests” for the Commission’s technology and logistics.
According to him, “the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), for dual biometric verification and the real-time upload of Polling Unit result sheets, Form EC8A, on the INEC Result Viewing portal, IReV, recorded upload rates above 98 percent in recent contests. “Technology has permanently closed the door on legacy voting vulnerabilities, ensuring that the ballot box alone determines electoral outcomes,” he said.
Looking ahead to 2027, Prof. Amupitan outlined key areas of focus. These include a Continuous Voter Registration and register audit using the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS), to remove duplicates, an expanded early-deployment logistics plan with transport unions to ensure 8:30 AM opening of polls, and enhanced access for Persons with Disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and the elderly.
The Commission, he said, is also working closely with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, and with the EFCC and ICPC, to tackle threats such as electoral violence, vote-buying and the spread of disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference.
Addressing the political conduct, the Chairman disclosed that INEC on Tuesday, joined presidential candidates at the National Peace Committee’s signing of the First National Peace Accord, on Issue-Based Campaigns. He however, described international observation missions as “invaluable institutional partners” rather than critics, and pledged the Commission’s “unreserved transparency, open door policy and full cooperation” to the IRI delegation and to the broader International Election Observation Mission expected for 2027.
Prof. Amupitan equally reiterated INEC’s neutrality in the electoral process. “As an electoral management body, INEC holds no preference for any political party or candidate. Our sole mandate is to serve as an uncompromising, impartial umpire dedicated to delivering an election that reflects the sovereign will of the Nigerian people,” he said.
