- Reaffirms Commitment to Public Confidence
By John Dike, Osogbo
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to restoring and strengthening public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process as it begins early strategic preparations for the 2026 off-cycle elections and the 2027 General Election.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made this known on Tuesday at a three-day Leadership Workshop organised by the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) for the Commission’s leadership in Lagos.
Speaking at the opening session of the workshop, which is holding from January 13 to 15 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja, Prof. Amupitan said the Commission is entering a critical phase marked by leadership transition, including the retirement of several directors and senior management staff who have served the nation with distinction.
He noted that sustaining institutional stability at such a time requires more than the preservation of structures, stressing that continuity must be built on clarity of purpose, integrity of leadership and a shared vision across the organisation.
According to the INEC Chairman, continuity does not imply sameness but the capacity to faithfully carry forward the Commission’s constitutional mandate while responding decisively to emerging electoral realities.
Looking ahead to the 2026 off-cycle elections and the 2027 General Election, Prof. Amupitan said Nigerians expect an electoral management body that is independent in thought and action, transparent in its operations, professional in conduct and credible in its outcomes.
“These expectations have informed our ongoing induction programme and strategic retreat, which are designed to set a clear direction for the Commission towards 2027 and beyond,” he said.
While acknowledging the significant reforms achieved between 2015 and 2023, the INEC Chairman admitted that public confidence in elections remains fragile. He warned that democracy cannot thrive without trust, adding that misinformation and disinformation have increasingly undermined the credibility of electoral processes.
“In an era where false narratives travel faster than the truth, INEC is often compelled to defend its integrity against orchestrated falsehoods even before the first vote is cast,” Prof. Amupitan stated.
He reaffirmed that under his leadership, the Commission remains firmly committed to conducting free, fair, credible, transparent and inclusive elections in strict compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC’s Regulations and Guidelines.
He added that rebuilding public confidence is not a one-off task but a daily operational responsibility that guides every decision of the Commission.
The INEC Chairman also said the leadership workshop, which brought together the Chairman and all National Commissioners, reflects the Commission’s belief in collective leadership and shared responsibility in identifying electoral risks and leveraging emerging opportunities.
Also speaking at the event, IFES Regional Director for Africa and Country Director for Nigeria, Mr. Seray Jah, said the workshop marks the early strategic phase of Nigeria’s preparations for the 2027 General Election, noting that the credibility of elections is largely shaped by decisions taken early in the electoral cycle.
Mr. Jah said IFES has partnered with INEC since 1998 to strengthen Nigeria’s electoral system through support for strategic planning, election operations, technology deployment, institutional reform and inclusion.
According to him, the workshop offers INEC leadership an opportunity to assess emerging challenges such as complex logistics, responsible use of technology, misinformation, AI-driven risks, internal coordination and sustaining public confidence in an increasingly polarised political environment.
He reaffirmed IFES’ commitment to supporting INEC throughout the 2027 electoral cycle and beyond, while acknowledging the support of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in promoting electoral integrity and democratic governance in Nigeria.
The three-day workshop brought together INEC National Commissioners, senior management staff and international partners to deliberate on strategic priorities, leadership resilience and measures to strengthen public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
