The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash O. Amupitan on Tuesday has assured political parties of a level playing field as preparations intensify for the 2027 General Election, even as the Commission heads to court to resolve conflicting judgments on its electoral timetable.
Speaking at INEC’s Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with party leaders in Abuja, Amupitan said the Commission remains “independent, impartial, and firmly committed to ensuring that every valid vote counts.” He described political parties as “indispensable partners” in consolidating constitutional democracy.
With 11 days to the Ekiti State Governorship Election on Saturday, 20 June 2026, Amupitan said preparations are “progressing satisfactorily.” Ekiti’s voter register now stands at 1,059,360 after 66,664 new voters were added from the first and second phases of Continuous Voter Registration, while 2,103 cases of double registration were invalidated.
He confirmed that all 2,445 polling units across Ekiti’s 16 LGAs will open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on election day. Participating parties also signed a Peace Accord during his recent visit, which he urged them to “internalize beyond a ceremonial exercise.”
On the same day, INEC will conduct bye-elections in 6 constituencies: Enugu North, Nasarawa North, Rivers South East, and Ondo South senatorial districts; Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency, Kano; and Zuru State Constituency, Kebbi. “The same operational standards, technological safeguards, and security arrangements” will apply, he said.
Attention has also shifted to the Osun State Governorship Election slated for Saturday, 15 August 2026, with the timetable already in implementation.
Amupitan addressed two recent Federal High Court judgments on INEC’s powers to set timelines. In _Youth Party v. INEC_ (20 May 2026), the court questioned parts of the 2027 timetable. In _SDP v. INEC_ (26 May 2026), the court affirmed INEC’s authority to issue a timetable but nullified timelines on candidate nomination and substitution.
To ensure “certainty and stability,” INEC has filed appeals. Amupitan argued that electoral activities are “interrelated operational processes” — from membership register verification and primary monitoring to BVAS configuration and ballot printing — that require coordinated timelines even where the Electoral Act is silent. “The absence of coordinated timelines would create uncertainty and undermine the Commission’s constitutional responsibility,” he stated.
Transitioning from primaries, INEC will on Friday, 26 June 2026 issue access codes to parties for the Candidate Nomination Portal. Designated national officers will upload names, particulars, and required details of candidates. “The portal is fully automated and will close automatically at the expiration of the prescribed period,” Amupitan warned, urging parties to prepare ICT teams early.
He also pushed for aggressive voter mobilization during the ongoing CVR, calling on parties to encourage eligible Nigerians to register and collect PVCs.
The INEC boss expressed concern over pending court cases “bothering on leadership of the parties,” calling them “unnecessary distractions.” He urged parties to uphold the rule of law, conduct transparent primaries, and reject violence, hate speech, and vote buying.
“Elections remain the cornerstone of representative democracy. There is no substitute for a democratic system founded on the free expression of the will of the people,” he said, echoing IPAC Chairman Dr. Yusuf Mamman Dantalle who spoke earlier at the same meeting.
INEC reaffirmed its commitment to conduct the 2027 elections “in strict compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and all lawful judicial pronouncements.”
