The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has charged employees of the fee to keep away from deliberate errors and administrative lapses able to undermining the credibility of the 2027 normal election.
Amupitan gave the cost throughout an interactive assembly with INEC employees from the North Central zone in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Friday, organised to evaluate the fee’s preparedness for the forthcoming elections.
He confused the necessity for professionalism, neutrality, accountability and operational effectivity, urging electoral personnel to make sure that no registered voter is disenfranchised on account of administrative negligence or logistical failure.
The INEC chairman acknowledged the tough terrain and safety challenges confronting the fee, however maintained that the profitable conduct of the elections remained a collective accountability of all personnel.
“Let us keep away from deliberate errors. We should be certain that the method is managed effectively and successfully for the sake of those that are praying for the downfall of Africa.
“Africa will not fall! Africa must not fall, and Nigeria must be the centre point. If we are able to get a very good democracy and credible election in Nigeria, it will resonate in other parts of Africa,” he mentioned.
Amupitan famous that electoral credibility couldn’t be achieved via last-minute preparations or rhetoric, however via sustained planning, skilled ethics, technological funding, improved employees welfare and efficient administrative processes.
He mentioned the fee couldn’t afford to stay complacent regardless of the successes recorded in earlier off-cycle elections, including that the 2027 normal election can be a nationwide enterprise involving over 103 million registered voters and 176,846 polling items throughout the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, INEC should enhance on its efficiency in earlier elections, together with these performed in Anambra, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and the FCT.
“The goal of this present administration is to ensure that the general election is much better managed and that our technical performance is better than what we have achieved in all those states and off-cycle elections,” he mentioned.
He recommended electoral officers and different personnel who participated in earlier elections, noting that many had risked their lives to make sure profitable electoral operations.
The chairman urged employees to stay dedicated to their duties, stressing that the fee should ship elections that might earn the boldness and appreciation of Nigerians.
Amupitan additionally underscored the strategic significance of the North Central zone within the electoral course of, describing the area as a vital bloc in figuring out the nation’s political management.
He disclosed that the zone had 15.44 million registered voters, whereas Kogi State alone accounted for over 1.93 million voters, making it a vital operational hub on account of its strategic location and limits with 10 states throughout 4 geopolitical zones.
“The fee was working to handle logistical challenges, notably in tough terrains, whereas strengthening voter training and combating misinformation and disinformation forward of the polls. He mentioned
The INEC chairman urged the fee’s voter training and publicity departments to accentuate public enlightenment, warning that pretend information and manipulated movies circulating on social media might undermine public confidence within the electoral course of.
“Social media has turn out to be an object of citizenship terrorism. Before you enable social media to terrorise the voters, we have to feed them with primary training that not each information showing on social media is right.
“They must check and verify whatever information they receive,” he mentioned.
He added that operational lapses, equivalent to late opening of polling items, technical glitches and poor employees conduct, might present ammunition for misinformation, stressing that transparency and environment friendly area operations remained the most effective safeguards in opposition to disinformation.
On election safety, Amupitan mentioned INEC was strengthening collaboration with safety companies beneath the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) framework to make sure the protection of electoral personnel, voters and election supplies.
He disclosed that the fee had deployed Election Risk Management instruments to determine susceptible areas throughout the North Central zone, with the assessments to be shared with safety companies for proactive deployment forward of the elections.
The chairman additionally revealed that intelligence-led operations had lately foiled plans by felony parts to focus on ad-hoc electoral employees, notably members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), via threats, intimidation and kidnapping.
According to him, the suspected kingpins had been arrested and charged to courtroom via the Department of State Services (DSS).
He warned that anybody who tried to threaten or hurt electoral personnel would face the complete weight of the regulation.
On the integrity of the voters’ register, Amupitan assured Nigerians that the fee was addressing recognized irregularities and dealing in the direction of the publication of the ultimate register on December 15, 2026.
He defined that the continuing claims and objections course of was designed to determine and proper anomalies, including that the fee was additionally pursuing efforts to revalidate the register and tackle inherited discrepancies.
The INEC chairman additional emphasised the necessity for workers self-discipline and neutrality, warning that misconduct would entice sanctions, whereas excellent efficiency can be rewarded.
The INEC boss disclosed that the fee had launched structural and welfare reforms, together with the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), an enhanced wage, hazard and area allowance package deal, elevated overhead allocation to state places of work and improved Duty Tour Allowances.
He mentioned the reforms, which took impact from January 1, 2026, had been aimed toward bettering employees motivation and operational effectivity, whereas some authorized advantages had been awaiting money backing.
Amupitan additionally disclosed plans for improved workplace infrastructure, a employees housing scheme, a severance package deal for retiring personnel and the procurement of autos, together with 500 pickup vehicles for state logistics operations.
He urged employees to uphold the integrity of the fee and stay guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act and their oath of neutrality.
“You are the human bridge translating the Electoral Act into democratic reality. Know the law, understand your responsibility, maintain absolute neutrality, document every action and protect the integrity of the ballot,” he mentioned.
The INEC chairman subsequently declared open the North Central Zone Interactive Staff Meeting and 2027 General Election Readiness Assessment, expressing confidence that the fee would ship credible elections.
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