Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states will serve as an “immediate litmus test” for the commission’s reforms ahead of the 2027 general election.
In May 2025, INEC scheduled the governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun for June 20 and August 8, 2026, respectively.
In an Eid-el-Fitr message issued by Adedayo Oketola, the chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, Amupitan urged the members of staff of the commission to translate the discipline of the Ramadan fast into a renewed commitment to electoral integrity.
The INEC chairman added that since his assumption of office on October 23, 2025, he has “moved aggressively” to modernise the commission’s operations and restore institutional memory.
“The commission is currently operating under the framework of the recently enacted Electoral Act 2026, which mandates stricter adherence to technological innovations like the bimodal voter accreditation system (BVAS) and the INEC result viewing portal (IReV),” he said. “The upcoming Ekiti and Osun governorship elections serve as the immediate litmus test for these reforms…and the ultimate test before the 2027 general election.
“With a workforce of over 14,000, the Commission is prioritising internal discipline alongside enhanced working conditions, recognising that a motivated workforce is the best defence against external political pressure.”