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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has commenced preparations for the 2027 general elections, with a renewed call for institutional integrity, administrative discipline, and stronger coordination among its officials.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made the call in Lagos at a two-day strategic operational workshop for Administrative Secretaries of the Commission.
He said the credibility and success of elections depend not only on electoral laws and guidelines, but also on the commitment and integrity of officials tasked with implementing them.
“We must draw lessons from previous electoral exercises, particularly recent off-cycle governorship elections, to strengthen our operations ahead of 2027,” Amupitan stated.
According to him, the objective of the workshop 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. He charged them to maintain continuity, enforce administrative discipline, and promptly escalate challenges that could affect electoral operations.
He also stressed the need for strict adherence to the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act, and INEC guidelines.
Amupitan further clarified that the position of Chief Accounting Officer of INEC remains vested in the Chairman, and not fragmented among state-level structures.
He called for continuous capacity building for administrative personnel, noting that regular training would improve technical proficiency and reduce operational challenges during elections.
Also speaking, the Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Ayobami Salami, urged participants to approach the workshop with openness and a commitment to knowledge sharing.
He said the 2027 elections would require a high level of institutional preparedness and that INEC must strengthen coordination between its administrative and technical functions.
Similarly, the Delta State REC, Dr. Rose Omo-Oriaran Anthony,emphasized the need for INEC’s election plans to align with directives from the national headquarters.
She urged Administrative Secretaries to work closely with their respective RECs and ensure that headquarters’ directives are fully incorporated into state-level operations.
The workshop was held in collaboration with development partners including DAI and the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria, EU-SDGN.
It is part of INEC’s broader efforts to strengthen coordination between state-level administrative leadership and the Commission’s overall electoral objectives, and to ensure greater operational preparedness ahead of 2027.
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