The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced preparations for the 2027 general elections, urging its officials to prioritise institutional integrity, administrative discipline and effective coordination in the conduct of electoral activities.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, gave the charge in Lagos while speaking at a two-day strategic operational workshop organised for the commission’s Administrative Secretaries.
Amupitan said the credibility and success of elections depended not only on electoral laws and guidelines but also on the commitment, competence and integrity of the officials responsible for implementing them.
He urged the participants to draw lessons from previous electoral exercises, particularly recent off-cycle governorship elections, to strengthen the commission’s operations ahead of the 2027 polls.
According to him, the objective is to establish a consistent operational standard across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The INEC chairman described Administrative Secretaries as critical technical, operational and administrative anchors at the state level, charging them to maintain continuity, enforce administrative discipline and promptly escalate challenges capable of affecting electoral operations.
He also stressed the need for strict adherence to the Constitution, the Electoral Act and established guidelines of the commission.
Amupitan clarified that the position of Chief Accounting Officer of INEC remains vested in the chairman of the commission, rather than being fragmented among state-level structures.
He further called for continuous capacity building and training of administrative personnel, noting that regular training would enhance technical proficiency and minimise operational challenges during elections.
The workshop, held in collaboration with development partners, including DAI and the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), is aimed at strengthening coordination between state-level administrative leadership and the commission’s broader electoral objectives.
The engagement forms part of INEC’s broader efforts to improve operational preparedness and institutional effectiveness ahead of the 2027 general elections