2027: INEC Chairman Warns Staff Against Partisanship As PVC Collection Begins October

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned electoral officers against partisanship, negligence and breaches of professional ethics ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Amupitan issued the warning on Monday in Kaduna while opening the North West Zonal Interactive Meeting with Staff and Readiness Assessment for the 2027 elections.

Addressing Electoral Officers, heads of departments and senior administrative staff from the zone, the INEC chairman said the Commission would enforce its code of conduct and would not tolerate conduct capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.

“Partisan leaning, administrative negligence, or compromised ethics will not be tolerated,” he said, adding that protecting INEC’s institutional integrity was non negotiable.

Amupitan said the conduct of officials at polling units could determine how voters perceive the Commission, warning that administrative lapses could provide room for disinformation and deepen voter apathy.

“When a polling unit opens late, when an officer displays nonchalance or perceived bias, or when technical glitches are met with silence, we inadvertently validate the cynics, deepen voter apathy, and fuel disinformation,” he said.

He reminded electoral officials of the oath of loyalty and neutrality required under Section 26 of the Electoral Act 2026, stressing that officials must carry out their duties without preference for any candidate or political party.

“The question must never be ‘Who will benefit from this decision?’ but always ‘What does the law require me to do?’” he stated.

The INEC chairman further directed staff to avoid informal shortcuts and follow procedures contained in the Electoral Act 2026, the Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections 2026 and other approved guidelines.

He said operational difficulties must be reported through formal channels rather than resolved through unauthorised arrangements.

According to Amupitan, technology and a strong legal framework could not guarantee credible elections unless officials faithfully implemented the rules governing the electoral process.

“The credibility of an election depends on how faithfully the law is implemented by the officials entrusted with its administration,” he said.

He described INEC staff as the public face of the Commission in their respective communities.

“To the voter in a local ward, INEC is not the Chairman in Abuja; INEC is you,” he told the officials.

Amupitan urged staff to know the law, understand their responsibilities, remain neutral and properly document their actions, saying every administrative decision should be capable of public scrutiny and judicial review.

He said the Kaduna meeting was part of a six zone readiness assessment exercise being conducted across the country ahead of the 2027 elections.

The chairman said his decision to personally attend the zonal meetings, accompanied by National Commissioners and directors, reflected the importance of engaging officials working directly in the field.

He recalled the Commission’s performance in recent off cycle elections, including the Osun State governorship election, but warned that previous achievements had increased expectations for the 2027 polls.

The Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.

On staff welfare, Amupitan said the Commission was implementing measures aimed at improving the welfare, security and operational capacity of its personnel.

He disclosed that the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure, CEMBSS, was established with effect from January 1, 2026, while overhead allocations to state offices were increased by 150 per cent from July 1.

He also announced that the procurement and distribution of new operational pick up vehicles had commenced, with vehicles being deployed to state offices and local government areas to improve staff mobility and security.

Earlier, the Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, said the Kaduna engagement was the second stop in the Commission’s six zone tour after Lagos.

Haruna disclosed that collection of newly printed Permanent Voter Cards would commence on October 9, urging traditional rulers and other community leaders to encourage eligible citizens to collect their cards and exercise their right to vote.

The Director of Planning and Monitoring, Helen Ajayi, said the zonal exercise was designed to assess the preparedness of states, identify operational challenges and ensure compliance with the Commission’s Code of Conduct.

Directors and representatives from the Voter Education and Publicity, Voter Registry, ICT, Human Resources, and Election and Operations departments also briefed participants on their respective areas of responsibility ahead of the 2027 elections.