Ahead of the upcoming 2027 general elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, has announced that individuals who assault electoral officials or youth service members on election duty will encounter strict legal measures. Professor Amupitan issued this caution on Saturday, October 31, 2026, while addressing personnel during the commission's South-South zonal interactive session and preparedness evaluation held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The electoral chief emphasized that safeguarding ad-hoc workers, particularly participants of the National Youth Service Corps, remains paramount. He reiterated that threats or physical harm directed at officials managing polls would be met with the full force of the law.
What other warnings were issued to electoral staff?
Aside from protecting field workers, the INEC leader cautioned permanent and ad-hoc staff against partisan behavior, dereliction of duty, unauthorized absence, and financial impropriety. He stressed that administrative misconduct would trigger immediate disciplinary procedures.
Highlighting regional demographics, Amupitan revealed a cumulative figure of 15,823,550 registered voters across the South-South geopolitical zone, with Rivers State accounting for 3,736,434 voters. He stressed that the commission will not tolerate the disenfranchisement of any qualified citizen due to logistical lapses or bureaucratic oversight.
How is INEC preparing technology and logistics for 2027?
Discussing preparations for the 2027 ballots, the chairman confirmed that the electoral body is configuring its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System units, which include 57,000 newly acquired gadgets. Concurrently, technical teams are auditing electronic result transmission platforms to boost transparency and public trust.
Addressing public grievances, Amupitan noted that the commission is actively reviewing complaints regarding anomalies on the preliminary voters' list published online, promising rectifications following thorough verification. He encouraged citizens to engage robustly with the claims and objections window leading up to the release of the final voters' register on December 15, 2026.
Furthermore, to surmount terrain challenges, INEC has secured a formal partnership with the Maritime Transporters Union. This collaboration aims to guarantee seamless movement of electoral personnel and sensitive materials across difficult riverine terrains, creeks, and coastal settlements within the region.