2027 election will be Nigeria’s best, says INEC Chairman, Amupitan

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Josh Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the 2027 general election will be the best conducted in the country’s history, declaring that the Commission will conduct a mock presidential election to test its systems while intensifying efforts to strengthen logistics, improve result management and rigorously deploy electoral technology ahead of the nationwide polls.

Amupitan gave the assurance at the Citizens’ Townhall on the Electoral Act 2026 held in Abuja on Sunday night, where he addressed public concerns surrounding electronic transmission of results, the meaning of real-time reporting and lessons drawn from previous elections.

“By the grace of God, the 2027 election will be the best election Nigerians have experienced,” he said, adding that while Nigerians naturally expect perfection, “achieving 100 per cent perfection may not yet be realistic. What we can promise is continuous improvement.”

He stressed that progress in electoral administration remains non-negotiable and disclosed that INEC will conduct a mock presidential election before 2027 to comprehensively test interstate transmission and technological capacity across the federation. According to him, the mock exercise will allow the Commission to simulate the scale of a nationwide presidential poll and identify potential weaknesses in advance.

Reflecting on the 2023 general election, Amupitan noted that while the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System was tested in off-cycle governorship elections in states such as Osun and Ekiti, those were intra-state exercises. The presidential election, however, required interstate transmission across the entire federation, a scale that had not been fully tested beforehand. He said the planned mock presidential election would address that gap and ensure seamless nationwide transmission in 2027.

Addressing controversies surrounding electronic transmission, the INEC Chairman argued that much of the public debate stems from differing interpretations of what constitutes “real-time” transmission. 

He cited the recent FCT Area Council election as an example, explaining that results were released on schedule in five of the six Area Councils, while the result from Kabi Ward in Kuje Area Council arrived the following day due to logistical and communication challenges.

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“In a place like the FCT, one would expect seamless transmission. Yet we encountered a situation where real-time transmission, particularly from Kabi Ward, was not possible until the following day,” he said.

He explained that Kabi Ward is about three and a half hours’ drive from Kuje town, with difficult terrain that hampered communication. Once officials entered the area, network connectivity became impossible, making it difficult for the Commission to reach them. 

The officials were later confirmed safe, and the results were physically transported back for collation alongside results from other wards before the final declaration.

From his experience, Amupitan maintained that the core issue is not electronic transmission itself but the adequacy of network infrastructure. 

“The issue is not necessarily the network; rather, it is the adequacy of the network infrastructure,” he said, noting that while some wards transmitted results successfully, connectivity challenges delayed the process in others.

He illustrated his point with a banking analogy. “If you transfer ₦50,000 using your banking app, the money leaves your account immediately. However, the recipient may not receive an alert until later. Does that mean the transfer did not occur in real time?” he asked, stressing that technology does not always guarantee instant visibility everywhere, particularly in areas with limited network capacity.

Amupitan emphasised that despite such challenges, results transmission in 2027 will be strengthened and properly managed in line with legal provisions. He pointed to safeguards in the Electoral Act that anticipate technological disruptions and provide clear procedures for managing results where electronic transmission encounters difficulties. “Even if real-time transmission fails, results must still be transmitted and properly managed,” he said, assuring Nigerians that the Commission will not allow technological hitches to undermine the integrity of the process.

On the broader conduct of elections, the INEC Chairman reiterated that logistics remain the foundation of credible polls. “An election can only be as good as its logistics. Where there is logistical failure, you are already facing serious problems,” he stated.

He explained that the success of any election can be measured by whether it starts as scheduled, proceeds peacefully and concludes with proper collation, documentation and declaration of results. If those elements are effectively managed, he said, the election can be deemed successful.

While acknowledging that some logistical challenges in past elections were partly human in nature, Amupitan assured Nigerians that corrective measures are underway. He said INEC is reviewing its operational framework, strengthening distribution systems and improving coordination to ensure that materials and personnel are deployed efficiently and on time.

Reaffirming the importance of elections in democratic governance, Amupitan described elections as the lifeblood of democracy. Quoting former American President Abraham Lincoln, he said, “The ballot is more powerful than the bullet,” warning that voter ignorance can also pose risks to national stability.

He disclosed that INEC actively participated in the process that produced the 2026 Electoral Act, contributing recommendations alongside members of the National Assembly and civil society stakeholders. Nigeria’s political landscape, he noted, is complex and diverse, requiring legislation that is simple, clear and accessible to all citizens.