INEC Chairman Amupitan Highlights Need for Security to Ensure Credible Elections

Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has stated that election credibility is jeopardized if voters feel unsafe to cast their ballots.

Amupitan made these remarks during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Abuja, which was attended by representatives from security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies.

Describing the year 2026 as significant for elections, Amupitan highlighted the upcoming Area Council elections, bye-elections, and off-cycle gubernatorial elections leading up to the general elections in 2027. He stressed that these events necessitate enhanced security planning, intelligence gathering, and cooperation among various agencies.

“As we gear up for the 2027 General Election, public concern and expectations are growing. Elections cannot be deemed credible if citizens do not feel safe to take part,” he stated.

Amupitan praised the security forces for their effective management of the Anambra State off-cycle gubernatorial election held on November 8, 2025, calling it a standard for future elections.

Regarding the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections set for February 21, he noted that the process would involve more than 1.6 million registered voters across 2,822 polling units. He added that INEC has already completed the distribution of non-sensitive election materials and training of temporary staff.

He also mentioned that a mock accreditation exercise using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would occur on February 7 in select polling locations.

Additionally, Amupitan indicated that bye-elections would take place the same day in certain areas of Rivers and Kano states, while a nationwide exercise to revalidate voters will commence soon in preparation for the 2027 elections, emphasizing the need for thorough security arrangements.

Hassan Abdullahi, representing the Office of the National Security Adviser, congratulated INEC and the security forces for their recent electoral achievements and committed to ongoing collaboration.

The Nigeria Police Force, through Abayomi Shogunle, reiterated its dedication to deploying significant forces to ensure security during the elections nationwide.