- Amupitan Unveils 2027 roadmap: 103 Million Voters, 176,846 Polling Units, Tech Upgrades, Staff Welfare Reforms
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-chief)
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told the visiting ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission that it has no preferred candidate or political party ahead of the 2027 general election, insisting that its only allegiance is to the rule of law and the sovereign will of the Nigerian electorate.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the declaration on Friday at the Commission’s National Headquarters in Abuja while receiving the ECOWAS delegation, led by former Vice-President of Sierra Leone, His Excellency Victor Bockarie Foh, and co-led by Dr. Abbas Chernor Bundu, former Executive Secretary of ECOWAS and former Speaker of the Parliament of Sierra Leone.
The delegation also included Her Excellency Ambassador Francess Piagie Alghali, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, as well as technical experts.
Welcoming the mission, Prof. Amupitan described the visit as a testament to the shared commitment to constitutional governance, democratic integrity and peer accountability across West Africa, noting that Nigeria’s democratic stability is inextricably bound to the peace and prosperity of the sub-region.
He described the 2027 general election as a pivotal milestone in Nigeria’s uninterrupted democratic journey since 1999, stressing that a stable, transparent and peaceful election in Nigeria remains a vital anchor for democratic governance across West Africa.
According to him, Nigeria’s voter population has crossed a historic threshold, with the National Register of Voters now standing at over 103 million registered citizens. To serve this electorate, INEC will deploy personnel and technological assets across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, covering 774 Local Government Areas, 8,809 Registration Areas and 176,846 Polling Units.
He announced that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, 16 January 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, 6 February 2027.
Providing an update on preparations, the INEC Chairman said the Commission has successfully executed nine out of the 14 major statutory milestones set out in its Revised Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2027 general election.
He said following three phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, INEC recently concluded the physical display of the Preliminary Register of Voters at Registration Areas nationwide, adding that the register has also been published on a dedicated online portal for public scrutiny, claims and objections ahead of the certification of the Final Register of Voters on 15 December 2026.
Prof. Amupitan also said the Commission has adopted a hands-on, field-first approach, conducting Zonal Readiness Assessment Tours across the geopolitical zones. He noted that assessments have been concluded in the South-West, North-West, South-East and North-East, with the South-South edition scheduled for Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
On technology, he said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System will be deployed for dual biometric accreditation—fingerprint and facial—while electronic Result Management Systems, including the newly introduced eEC8A electronic verification platform, will guarantee that results declared at polling units are transmitted transparently and verified via the INEC Result Viewing Portal.
The INEC boss also announced sweeping staff welfare reforms, including the approval of the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, which pulls INEC workers out of the regular civil service scale, alongside a 150 per cent increase in state operational overheads.
“In return, we maintain a policy of zero tolerance for administrative negligence, extortion or partisan compromise, backed by mandatory Oaths of Neutrality under Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026,” he said.
On security, Prof. Amupitan said the Commission, working through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, has operationalised an intelligence-driven security architecture known as the “ICCES Tentacle.” He explained that the framework uses early risk-mapping tools to secure polling units, safeguard ad-hoc staff—particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps—and guarantee uninhibited access for all voters, including Persons with Disabilities.
He called for continued collaboration with ECOWAS in three areas: the robust deployment of long-term and short-term election observation missions; enhanced peer-learning and technical exchange on combating electoral disinformation and managing logistics in complex terrains; and active diplomatic solidarity to ensure that peace accords and democratic commitments resonate across the sub-region.
“A credible election is a collective national enterprise. While INEC serves as the impartial umpire, the ultimate success of the ballot relies on political parties adhering to internal democracy and peaceful campaigning, civil society driving voter education, media houses combating fake news and digital disinformation, and security agencies maintaining neutral protection,” he said.
In a closing assurance, the INEC Chairman reiterated the Commission’s neutrality.
“I assure you, and through you, the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, that the Independent National Electoral Commission under my watch has no candidate and no political party. Our sole allegiance is to the rule of law, the sovereign will of the Nigerian electorate and the democratic progress of our nation,” Prof. Amupitan declared.
The ECOWAS mission is expected to engage political party leaders, civil society organisations, security agencies and other stakeholders as part of its fact-finding exercise ahead of the 2027 general election. NNL.
