The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced early testing, auditing and strengthening of its operational systems ahead of the 2027 general elections, signalling a shift from last-minute preparations for the nationwide polls.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, disclosed this during a visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Amb. Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, in Zaria, Kaduna State, as part of the commission’s zonal readiness assessment and stakeholder engagement.
Amupitan said the scale and complexity of conducting elections across Nigeria required the commission to begin preparations well ahead of the polls rather than wait until the election period was close.
According to him, INEC was already reviewing its operational systems and taking steps to strengthen its capacity for the 2027 elections.
He also used the engagement to reaffirm the commission’s neutrality, declaring that INEC had no preferred candidate or political party in the forthcoming elections.
“We have no candidates, we have no political party, we have no interest other than the sovereign will of the people of Nigeria,” he said.
The INEC chairman said the commission’s responsibility was to protect the will of voters and sustain public confidence in the electoral process.
He identified traditional institutions as critical stakeholders in the preparation for credible elections, citing their influence and reach within communities.
Amupitan urged traditional rulers to support peaceful political participation and responsible conduct before, during and after the elections.
He appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to reject the treatment of elections as a do-or-die affair and instead conduct issue-based campaigns.
The chairman further urged traditional institutions to discourage the recruitment of young people for political violence and thuggery, while encouraging eligible citizens to participate actively in the electoral process.
He said INEC would sustain its engagement with traditional rulers and other stakeholders as preparations for the 2027 general elections intensify.
