Expect Improvements, Not Perfection’: INEC Chair’s Candid Warning on 2027 Polls

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has assured Nigerians that the commission possesses the technical capacity to electronically transmit election results in 2027, while cautioning that no electoral body can promise absolute perfection.

Amupitan gave the assurance on Sunday during the live Citizens’ Town Hall programme titled “Electoral Act 2026: What it means for your votes and the 2027 elections.” The broadcast was anchored by Seun Okinbaloye alongside Yiaga Africa’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, and featured political leaders and public figures across party lines.

Managing expectations

Addressing growing public demand for flawless polls, the INEC chairman appealed for realism.

“Nigerians desire a perfect election,” he said. “INEC will strive to deliver the best possible process, but we may not achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now.”

He stressed, however, that electronic transmission of results would be implemented in 2027, clarifying that the major debate has centred more on the meaning of “real-time” transmission rather than the commission’s capacity to transmit results at all.

Elections and democracy

Amupitan described elections as the foundation of democratic governance, emphasising the importance of voter awareness and institutional integrity.

Quoting Abraham Lincoln, he noted that “the ballot is more powerful than the bullet,” adding that voter ignorance can endanger national stability. He underscored the joint responsibility of INEC and civil society groups in safeguarding credible elections.

The INEC chief disclosed that the commission played an active role in shaping the Electoral Act 2026, which he said was the product of nearly three years of collaboration among lawmakers, civil society organisations and electoral officials.

Debate over electronic transmission

On the contentious issue of mandatory electronic transmission — a subject that generated intense debate after the 2023 elections — Amupitan revealed that INEC advocated strongly for compulsory transmission during legislative discussions.

He explained that while transmission itself is not the core challenge, network adequacy in remote areas remains a concern.

Citing the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections as an example, he recounted how results from Kabi Ward in Kuje Area Council were delayed due to poor terrain and limited communication access. According to him, election officials deployed to the area became unreachable for hours, and results could only be physically transported for collation the following day.

Despite the setback, he maintained that transmission was not fundamentally problematic.

“From my experience so far, the real issue is not the network itself, but the adequacy of coverage in certain areas,” he said.

Logistics and credibility

Amupitan linked election credibility closely to logistics, warning that operational failures can erode public confidence.

“An election is only as good as its logistics,” he noted, acknowledging that the FCT poll experienced some logistical and human errors, which the commission is working to correct.

He expressed optimism that the 2027 general elections would reflect noticeable improvements, citing increased voter awareness and heightened demand for accountability.

“When citizens trust both the process and their leaders, the country moves forward,” he added.

INEC begins regulatory review

Meanwhile, INEC has launched a comprehensive review of its regulations and guidelines governing political parties ahead of the 2027 elections.

According to a statement issued by the chairman’s Chief Press Secretary, Adedayo Oketola, the reform initiative aims to strengthen oversight of political parties, enhance compliance, reduce pre-election litigation and align party regulations with the Electoral Act 2026.

The review workshop in Abuja involves national commissioners, legal experts, election administrators and other institutional stakeholders. Participants are conducting a clause-by-clause assessment of the 2022 regulatory framework.

INEC said the Electoral Act 2026 introduces significant legal and operational changes affecting party primaries, candidate nominations, financial disclosures and dispute resolution processes. As a result, subsidiary regulations are being updated to ensure clarity and alignment before the next electoral cycle.

The commission identified recurring issues — including opaque primaries, membership disputes, weak financial transparency and exclusionary participation patterns — as factors contributing to avoidable electoral conflicts.

To support evidence-based reform, INEC is incorporating insights from the Political Party Performance Index (PPPI), a diagnostic tool designed to evaluate party governance practices nationwide. The goal, it said, is to shift from reactive enforcement to proactive regulatory supervision.

“For elections to inspire confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must operate transparently and within the law,” Amupitan stated.

The review is being supported technically by the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, alongside Nigerian legal and electoral experts.

Political parties adjust to new rules

In response to new legal requirements, several parties have begun digital membership registration drives.

The Peoples Democratic Party announced a three-week nationwide electronic membership registration exercise beginning March 2, 2026, to comply with the requirement for submission of digital registers to INEC.

Similarly, the African Democratic Congress launched a free online registration platform while continuing manual enrolment nationwide. The party said only members captured and verified in its digital database would be eligible to participate in primaries.

Sources within the All Progressives Congress indicated that its e-registration portal, which recently closed, may reopen to accommodate additional members in light of the new legal framework.

Revised election timetable

Following initial controversy over election dates coinciding with Ramadan in 2027, lawmakers amended the Electoral Act to shorten the mandatory notice period from 360 to 300 days. INEC subsequently revised the timetable.

Under the updated schedule, Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are set for February 6, 2027.

INEC reiterated its commitment to continuous reform, stating that early alignment of regulations with the Electoral Act 2026 would reduce pre-election disputes and enhance administrative preparedness.

As preparations intensify, Amupitan insisted that while perfection may remain elusive, the commission remains determined to deliver its most credible election yet in 2027.