INEC Begins Early Preparations for 2027 Elections, Reaffirms Credibility Pledge

By Anayo Akwitti

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections as it intensifies early institutional preparations ahead of the 2027 General Election.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, said the Commission is strengthening its leadership capacity, operational systems and internal coordination in response to growing public expectations of the electoral process.

He spoke on Friday, at the opening of a two-day Induction and Strategic Retreat for newly appointed National Commissioners and Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in Lagos.

Prof. Amupitan said early planning, strategic coordination and strict adherence to the Electoral Act 2022 will be critical to the credibility of the 2027 polls.

He noted that before 2027, INEC will conduct key electoral exercises, including the FCT Area Council Elections in February 2026 and off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, which will serve as test runs for voter register management, logistics and the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

The INEC Chairman outlined five guiding principles for the Commission’s mandate: freedom from interference, fairness, credibility, transparency and inclusivity.

Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos State, Prof. Ayobami Salami, described the retreat as timely, noting that early planning and institutional cohesion are essential as INEC advances towards the 2027 General Election.

Also speaking, the Director of Planning and Monitoring, Helen Ajayi, said the retreat is designed to induct new Commission members into INEC’s institutional framework and legal architecture, while providing a platform for experience sharing among state-level implementers of electoral policies.