The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Prof. Joash Amupitan, has submitted that the expectations OF Nigerians from the commission are high and the electoral umpire must rise to the occasion.
The INEC Chairman, said the goal of the commission under is watch will be to conduct a credible, free and fair election in 2027.
He however stressed that before 2027, INEC must also use the opportunity provided by several critical polls, including the FCT Area Council Elections in February 2026 and the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, to test the commission’s preparedness.
According to him, INEC must ensure the 2027 general elections become a reference point for a world-class, technologically-driven, and transparent election which is beyond reproach.
Naijaonpoint reports Amupitan made the declaration on Friday while delivering his opening address at the commission’s 2026 Induction and Strategic Retreat organised for its leadership and senior officials, and attended by Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners, as well as administrative secretaries, directors and top management staff across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, the 2027 election present a unique opportunity for INEC to rewrite the history of elections in Nigeria and set a new benchmark for election management in Africa.
Amupitan said, “The eyes of over 200 million Nigerians and indeed the entire continent are upon us.
“I charge you today to brace yourselves. The work ahead is demanding, the hours will be long, and the scrutiny will be intense.
“We have a golden opportunity to rewrite the history of elections in Nigeria. Our goal is clear: The 2027 General Election must be free and fair and be a watershed moment in Nigeria’s election history.
“But we must aim even higher. I want us to build an institution that is recognised globally.
“Let it be said that under our watch, INEC became the best Election Management Body in Africa —a beacon of integrity, a model of technological efficiency, and a fortress of democratic values.”
According to him, INEC must use the upcoming elections to prove it can conduct elections which are technologically-driven, transparent and beyond reproach.
He added: “It must be a continental standard, a proof-of-concept that demonstrates that INEC can indeed conduct a world-class, technologically-driven, and transparent election that is beyond reproach.
“Our mandate, which we should pursue rigorously, is built on five non-negotiable pillars.
“We are here to organise elections that are free from any form of interference; fair to all contestants and political parties; credible in the eyes of the global community; transparent in every process, from polling units to result collation; and inclusive of every Nigerian, regardless of physical ability or location.”
Amupitan added that INEC must be ready to play its role and ensure millions of young Nigerians, who are already tech-savvy and demand digital transparency are not disappointed in the electoral process.
“It is our duty to prove to these tech-savvy, and often skeptical, young voters that INEC can be trusted.
“By ensuring our systems are inclusive, and our technology is beyond reproach, we are not just conducting an election; we are securing the lifelong loyalty of Nigeria’s future to the ideals of the ballot.”
As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Amupitan reassured that he was particularly committed to the Legal Framework of Elections.
“We will navigate the 2022 Electoral Act and subsequent amendments with surgical precision.
“Let it be known that under my leadership, the rule of law is not a suggestion; it is our operating system,” the INEC Chairman said.
While reaffirming his commitment to staff welfare, Amupitan said the retreat would deliberate on 17 thematic areas, including logistics, voter registration, election security, political party regulation and inter-agency collaboration, aimed at strengthening the commission’s operational capacity.