We Will Give Credible Elections But Don’t Expect Perfection

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, has cautioned Nigerians against expecting a flawless electoral process in the 2027 general elections, even as he assured that the commission is committed to conducting credible and transparent polls. He spoke at a citizens’ town hall meeting in Abuja while addressing concerns around the Electoral Act 2026 and preparations for the next general elections.

Amupitan said that although INEC has continued to improve its operations since the 2023 elections, challenges remain inevitable in a country as large and complex as Nigeria. He pointed to issues such as logistics, security concerns, and technological limitations, particularly in remote areas, noting that these factors make it unrealistic to promise elections without any form of hitches.

The INEC chairman explained that the commission is reviewing lessons from past elections and strengthening key areas, including voter accreditation, result management, and the electronic transmission of results. He added that INEC is also engaging security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to reduce risks and improve public confidence ahead of 2027.

He urged Nigerians to assess elections based on their overall credibility and whether the outcomes truly reflect the will of the people, rather than focusing on isolated shortcomings. According to him, while perfection may not be achievable, INEC’s goal remains to deliver elections that are free, fair, and substantially credible.