INEC Chairman Warns Staff Against Deliberate Errors Ahead Of 2027 Elections

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has charged staff of the commission to avoid deliberate errors and administrative lapses capable of undermining the credibility of the 2027 general election.

Amupitan gave the charge during an interactive meeting with INEC staff from the North Central zone in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Friday, organised to assess the commission’s preparedness for the forthcoming elections.

He stressed the need for professionalism, neutrality, accountability and operational efficiency, urging electoral personnel to ensure that no registered voter is disenfranchised due to administrative negligence or logistical failure.

The INEC chairman acknowledged the difficult terrain and security challenges confronting the commission, but maintained that the successful conduct of the elections remained a collective responsibility of all personnel.

“Let us avoid deliberate mistakes. We must ensure that the process is managed efficiently and effectively for the sake of those who are praying for the downfall of Africa.

“Africa will not fall! Africa must not fall, and Nigeria must be the centre point. If we are able to get a very good democracy and credible election in Nigeria, it will resonate in other parts of Africa,” he said.

Amupitan noted that electoral credibility could not be achieved through last-minute preparations or rhetoric, but through sustained planning, professional ethics, technological investment, improved staff welfare and effective administrative processes.

He said the commission could not afford to remain complacent despite the successes recorded in previous off-cycle elections, adding that the 2027 general election would be a nationwide undertaking involving over 103 million registered voters and 176,846 polling units across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, INEC must improve on its performance in previous elections, including those conducted in Anambra, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun and the FCT.

“The goal of this present administration is to ensure that the general election is much better managed and that our technical performance is better than what we have achieved in all those states and off-cycle elections,” he said.

He commended electoral officers and other personnel who participated in previous elections, noting that many had risked their lives to ensure successful electoral operations.

The chairman urged staff to remain committed to their duties, stressing that the commission must deliver elections that would earn the confidence and appreciation of Nigerians.

Amupitan also underscored the strategic importance of the North Central zone in the electoral process, describing the region as a critical bloc in determining the country’s political leadership.

He disclosed that the zone had 15.44 million registered voters, while Kogi State alone accounted for over 1.93 million voters, making it a critical operational hub due to its strategic location and boundaries with 10 states across four geopolitical zones.

“The commission was working to address logistical challenges, particularly in difficult terrains, while strengthening voter education and combating misinformation and disinformation ahead of the polls. He said

The INEC chairman urged the commission’s voter education and publicity departments to intensify public enlightenment, warning that fake news and manipulated videos circulating on social media could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.

“Social media has become an object of citizenship terrorism. Before you allow social media to terrorise the electorate, we need to feed them with basic education that not every news appearing on social media is correct.

“They must check and verify whatever information they receive,” he said.

He added that operational lapses, such as late opening of polling units, technical glitches and poor staff conduct, could provide ammunition for misinformation, stressing that transparency and efficient field operations remained the best safeguards against disinformation.

On election security, Amupitan said INEC was strengthening collaboration with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) framework to ensure the safety of electoral personnel, voters and election materials.

He disclosed that the commission had deployed Election Risk Management tools to identify vulnerable areas across the North Central zone, with the assessments to be shared with security agencies for proactive deployment ahead of the elections.

The chairman also revealed that intelligence-led operations had recently foiled plans by criminal elements to target ad-hoc electoral staff, particularly members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), through threats, intimidation and kidnapping.
According to him, the suspected kingpins had been arrested and charged to court through the Department of State Services (DSS).

He warned that anyone who attempted to threaten or harm electoral personnel would face the full weight of the law.

On the integrity of the voters’ register, Amupitan assured Nigerians that the commission was addressing identified irregularities and working towards the publication of the final register on December 15, 2026.

He explained that the ongoing claims and objections process was designed to identify and correct anomalies, adding that the commission was also pursuing efforts to revalidate the register and address inherited discrepancies.

The INEC chairman further emphasised the need for staff discipline and neutrality, warning that misconduct would attract sanctions, while outstanding performance would be rewarded.

The INEC boss disclosed that the commission had introduced structural and welfare reforms, including the Consolidated Election Management Body Salary Structure (CEMBSS), an enhanced salary, hazard and field allowance package, increased overhead allocation to state offices and improved Duty Tour Allowances.

He said the reforms, which took effect from January 1, 2026, were aimed at improving staff motivation and operational efficiency, while some approved benefits were awaiting cash backing.

Amupitan also disclosed plans for improved office infrastructure, a staff housing scheme, a severance package for retiring personnel and the procurement of vehicles, including 500 pickup trucks for state logistics operations.

He urged staff to uphold the integrity of the commission and remain guided by the provisions of the Electoral Act and their oath of neutrality.

“You are the human bridge translating the Electoral Act into democratic reality. Know the law, understand your responsibility, maintain absolute neutrality, document every action and protect the integrity of the ballot,” he said.

The INEC chairman subsequently declared open the North Central Zone Interactive Staff Meeting and 2027 General Election Readiness Assessment, expressing confidence that the commission would deliver credible elections.

Cross section of Participants at the ongoing INEC North Central Zone Interactive meeting for staff of the zone, holding in Lokoja the Kogi State Capital