The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the commission is fully capable of electronically transmitting election results in 2027, but cautioned that it cannot guarantee a “100 per cent perfect election.”
Amupitan gave the assurance on Sunday during the live Citizens’ Town Hall programme titled “Electoral Act 2026: What it means for your votes and the 2027 elections.” The debate was anchored by broadcaster Seun Okinbaloye and the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo.
Among those present were the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nentawe Yilwatda; the Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman; former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili; and Senator Ireti Kingibe, among others.
Appealing to Nigerians to temper expectations, Amupitan said while INEC would strive to deliver the best possible election, perfection remains difficult to achieve.
He reaffirmed the commission’s readiness to transmit results electronically, noting that the only major concern has been defining what qualifies as “real-time” transmission.
According to him, elections remain the cornerstone of democratic governance. Quoting Abraham Lincoln, he described the ballot as more powerful than bullets and stressed that voter ignorance poses a threat to national security. He underscored the importance of voter education, transparency, and collaboration between INEC and civil society in ensuring credible polls.
Amupitan revealed that INEC played an active role in shaping the Electoral Act 2026, a process that began nearly three years ago through collaboration with the National Assembly and civil society groups. He noted that although much of the groundwork had been completed before he assumed office, the commission still made significant contributions to the final provisions.
On electronic transmission — a contentious issue after the 2023 elections — he said INEC pushed for mandatory transmission during legislative deliberations. However, practical challenges, particularly around network adequacy, continue to affect real-time uploads.
Citing the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, Amupitan explained that while results from five of the six councils were transmitted promptly, one ward in Kuje Area Council experienced delays due to poor terrain and network limitations. Officials deployed to the ward were temporarily unreachable, and results were eventually physically transported for collation the following day.
He maintained that transmission itself is not the core issue but rather network strength and logistical constraints in certain locations.
The INEC chairman emphasised that election quality depends heavily on logistics, warning that operational lapses can erode public confidence. While acknowledging minor logistical and human errors during the FCT poll, he said corrective measures are already underway.
Despite the challenges, Amupitan expressed optimism that the 2027 elections would surpass previous polls, citing increased voter awareness and growing public demand for accountability.
He argued that transparent elections would strengthen trust in both INEC and elected leaders, ultimately advancing national development.
Meanwhile, INEC has launched a comprehensive review of its regulations and guidelines for political parties to strengthen electoral integrity ahead of 2027.
In a statement issued by Chief Press Secretary Adedayo Oketola, the commission said the reform process—convened in Abuja under Amupitan’s leadership—aims to enhance oversight, improve compliance, reduce pre-election disputes, and align party regulations with the Electoral Act 2026.
The technical workshop includes national commissioners, legal experts, election administrators, and institutional stakeholders who are conducting a clause-by-clause review of the 2022 regulatory framework.
INEC identified recurring issues such as opaque party primaries, membership disputes, weak financial disclosures, and exclusionary practices as factors contributing to litigation and electoral uncertainty. To address these, the commission is incorporating findings from its Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), shifting oversight from reactive enforcement to proactive supervision based on measurable standards.
Technical support is being provided by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. Its Nigeria Country Director, Adebowale Olorunmola, described the review as a reconstruction of Nigeria’s democratic foundation, stressing that political parties must meet the same integrity standards expected of the electoral commission.
At the end of the process, a draft of the Revised Regulations and Guidelines (2026 Edition) will undergo internal validation before consultations with the Inter-Party Advisory Council and registered political parties.
In compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, major political parties have begun digital membership registration exercises.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by Tanimu Turaki, announced the launch of nationwide electronic registration beginning March 2, 2026. The exercise will run for three weeks across all wards nationwide.
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has introduced a free online registration platform while continuing manual registration. The party said only digitally verified members will be eligible to participate in its primaries.
The APC is also considering reopening its e-registration portal following stakeholder consultations to allow more Nigerians to enroll.
INEC had initially scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for February 20, 2027, and the Governorship and State Assembly elections for March 6, 2027. However, criticism arose as the dates coincided with the Ramadan period.
Following amendments by the Senate shortening the mandatory election notice period, INEC revised the timetable. The Presidential and National Assembly elections are now set for January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
Under the updated schedule, political parties must submit comprehensive digital membership registers by April 2, 2026 — a requirement some stakeholders argue may pose challenges for opposition parties.
INEC reiterated its commitment to continuous reform, pledging to strengthen transparency, reduce litigation, and ensure that political parties operate as credible democratic institutions capable of producing trustworthy leadership for Nigerians.
