INEC Chairman Prof. Joash Amupitan assures Nigerians of free, fair and credible 2027 elections as stakeholders stress election security, campaign finance transparency and result integrity
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the commission will deliver a free, fair, credible, peaceful and inclusive general election in 2027.
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Amupitan made the pledge at the Electoral Integrity Summit organised by Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) with support from UK International Development in Abuja.
Represented by Anambra State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, the INEC chairman acknowledged the high expectations Nigerians have of the commission.
“Our election in 2027 will be what we expect. We will meet our expectations, our yearnings, our desire as a very free, fair, credible, peaceful, inclusive election,” he said.
He emphasised that credible elections require collective effort, noting that security agencies, civil society organisations, political actors, and voters all play critical roles in the electoral process.
Delivering a keynote address, Chairperson of the Africa Electoral Justice Network (AEJN), Judge Boosie Henry Mbha, urged Nigeria and other West African nations to build preventive and institution-based electoral systems.
He described elections as constitutional processes anchored on transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to the law.
According to him, election security, campaign finance regulation, and result management must function as interconnected pillars to safeguard democratic integrity.
Mbha warned that democracy erodes gradually when institutions weaken and accountability becomes selective.
He stressed that electoral integrity must be treated as a legal obligation rather than a political aspiration.
The Executive Director of KDI, Bukola Idowu, raised concerns about breaches in campaign finance regulations, gaps in election security, and inconsistencies in result management, particularly in figures uploaded to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
He noted that discrepancies such as arithmetic errors, over-voting, and missing ballot records could undermine public confidence if not properly addressed.
Idowu urged regulatory bodies to enforce spending limits for political parties and publish monitoring reports to enhance transparency.
He also called for stronger collaboration between INEC and security agencies to ensure peaceful polls.
Also read: Rivers Assembly inaugurates two new lawmakers after by elections
Stakeholders at the summit expressed optimism that strengthening election security, financial accountability, and result transparency would boost public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections and other upcoming off-cycle polls.
