The newly appointed head of Nigeria’s electoral body has vowed to transform the institution into the “best in Africa,” promising that the 2027 general election will be a “watershed moment” for the continent.
Professor Joash Amupitan SAN, who took over as Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in October, made the pledge on Friday during a high-level strategic retreat in Lagos.
In his first major policy address of 2026, the chairman sought to reassure a skeptical public—particularly millions of young “digital native” voters—that the commission would be a “fortress of democratic values.”
Testing the gears
While the 2027 national vote is the ultimate goal, Prof. Amupitan outlined a busy 2026 schedule that will serve as a “testing ground” for the commission’s technology and logistics:
- February 2026: Local elections in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
- Mid-2026: Key “off-cycle” governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
- Tech Audit: A rigorous review of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to ensure it is “beyond reproach” before the national polls.
The chairman praised staff for the “peaceful and professional” conduct of the Anambra State governorship election in November 2025, which he said set a formidable tone for his tenure.
Winning over the ‘Digital Natives’
Acknowledging the growing influence of Nigeria’s youth, Prof. Amupitan noted that millions of citizens will be voting for the first time in 2027.
“These are digital natives who demand transparency in real-time and have little patience for opacity,” he told senior officials. “It is our duty to prove to these tech-savvy, and often skeptical, young voters that INEC can be trusted.”
He emphasised that the rule of law would be the commission’s “operating system,” promising “surgical precision” in following the country’s Electoral Act.
A warning to staff
The chairman’s ambitious vision came with a stern warning to his own officials. While promising to improve staff welfare, he made it clear that “any compromise” on the integrity of the vote would have consequences.
“There is no room for misconduct, whether by omission or commission,” he said, calling on the body to become a “model of technological efficiency” for the rest of the world.
The retreat, which continues through Saturday, is expected to tackle perennial Nigerian election challenges, including the “logistics nightmare” of transporting materials and ensuring the security of voters at tens of thousands of polling units across the country.
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