INEC Chair Amupitan Says 2027 Election May Not Be Flawless

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Ojo Amupitan, expressed that the commission is unable to assure a flawless election in 2027, especially in terms of electronic result transmission.

Amupitan made this declaration during a Townhall Meeting organized by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity, which was held at Abuja Continental Hotel on Sunday.

He affirmed that the upcoming 2027 presidential election would be historic for Nigeria.

Various stakeholders, including civil society members, academics, election monitors, and citizens gathered at the meeting to engage in discussions surrounding electoral issues.

The INEC Chairman emphasized the necessity for clearer legislative language that would allow all Nigerians to properly understand the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.

He referenced the recent FCT area council elections, noting that results were promptly released in five of the councils, whereas one ward in Kuje experienced delays until the next day.

Amupitan indicated that the success of the election hinges heavily on logistical precision. He stated, "To gauge the success of an election, it is essential to evaluate if the election commenced as scheduled. We had announced 8:30 for start time, so if we started on time, that is crucial."

He listed other measures of success as the peaceful conduct of elections and effective management of results, stating, "As the regulatory body, we strive to accomplish these objectives."

However, he acknowledged logistical challenges, many of which were human errors that they are currently working to resolve. He appealed to Nigerians for their understanding, recognizing that there is a strong desire for a perfect election. "We aim to deliver the best possible election for this country," he reiterated.

He added, "While we may not achieve a perfectly flawless election at this moment, I assure you we possess the capability to transmit results electronically and will do so."

He clarified concerns regarding real-time transmission, citing an example where immediate alerts are not always received during monetary transfers. He stated that ensuring prompt transmission and effective result management are critical for reinforcing the electoral system's credibility and transparency.

Amupitan expressed confidence that glitches will not occur during the elections, citing that in the last FCT elections, despite some delays, there were no failures in result transmission, underscoring a safety mechanism should transmission fail.

"Even if a failure occurs, results must still be transmitted, but the challenge lies in achieving real-time transmission," he noted. He emphasized the importance of rigorous testing of technology prior to deployment, citing deficiencies in testing during recent federal elections.

"We aim to ensure that the process of transmitting results will not fail come the 2027 election. With God’s help, this election will be the best yet for Nigerians, as they will be more enlightened than in 2023," he asserted.