The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) has said it is making early strategic preparations towards this year’s off-cycle elections and next year’s general election.
The commission reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening public confidence in the nation’s electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, announced this yesterday in Lagos at a leadership workshop organised by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) for the leadership of the electoral umpire.
Amupitan, who described the workshop as timely, said the commission was navigating a critical period of leadership transition marked by changes at the top and the retirement of several directors and senior management workers after years of distinguished service to the nation.
The INEC chairman said institutional continuity must be anchored on clarity of purpose, integrity of leadership and unity of vision, rather than the mere preservation of structures.
He noted that continuity does not imply sameness but the ability to faithfully carry forward INEC’s constitutional mandate while adapting to emerging realities with insight and resolve.
Commenting on this year’s off-cycle elections and the 2027 general election, the INEC chairman said Nigerians expect an electoral management body that is independent in thought and action, transparent in its processes, professional in conduct and credible in its outcomes.
According to him, these expectations informed the commission’s ongoing induction and strategic retreat aimed at setting a clear direction for 2027 and beyond.
Amupitan noted that despite significant reforms recorded between 2015 and 2023, public confidence in the electoral process has remained fragile.
The INEC chairman warned that democracy cannot thrive without trust, saying misinformation and disinformation have increasingly undermined confidence in elections.
“In an era where fake news travels faster than the truth, INEC is often compelled to defend its integrity against orchestrated falsehoods, even before the first vote is cast,” he said.
Amupitan promised that under his leadership, the INEC would remain firmly committed to delivering free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive elections in compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines.
He added that rebuilding public confidence is a daily operational responsibility that guides every decision of the commission.
IFES Regional Director for Africa and Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Seray Jah, said the workshop marked the early strategic phase of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
The IFES director stressed that the credibility of elections is largely shaped by the decisions taken early in the electoral cycle.
He said the organization has been partnering the INEC since 1998 in strengthening Nigeria’s electoral system through support for strategic planning, election operations, technology deployment, institutional reform and inclusion.
According to him, the workshop provided INEC’s leadership with an opportunity to reflect on emerging challenges, including increasingly complex logistics, the responsible use of technology, misinformation and AI-driven risks, internal coordination, and public confidence in a highly polarised environment.
Jah reaffirmed IFES’ commitment to supporting INEC throughout the 2027 electoral cycle and beyond, acknowledging the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in promoting electoral integrity and democratic governance in Nigeria.
The three-day workshop brought together INEC national commissioners, senior management workers and international partners to deliberate on strategic opportunities and challenges in electoral administration, with a focus on leadership, institutional resilience and public trust.
