By Gabriel Ameh
Minna, Niger State Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has urged staff members of the commission to uphold integrity and professionalism, warning that Nigeria cannot afford to fail in delivering credible elections in 2027.
Speaking on Friday during an official working visit and interactive session with INEC management and staff at the commission’s Niger State headquarters in Minna, Amupitan said the success of the 2027 general elections depends largely on the dedication and conduct of electoral officials across the country.
He cautioned staff against any form of misconduct or compromise, stressing that Nigerians and the international community are closely monitoring preparations for the elections.
“You are our ambassadors, and you cannot afford to fail. The whole world not just Nigerians is looking up to INEC,” he said.
The INEC chairman disclosed that he recently attended a meeting of Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs) organised by the African Union in Egypt, where many countries expressed interest in observing Nigeria’s next general elections.
According to him, the presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027.
He assured staff that the commission is strengthening logistics, transportation and operational infrastructure nationwide to ensure smoother election management.
“We do not want to repeat the mistakes of the past. Our objective is to continuously improve our performance and deliver elections that Nigerians can trust,” Amupitan stated.
The INEC chairman reiterated his commitment to rebuilding public confidence in the electoral process through transparent, free, fair and credible elections.
He explained that achieving this goal would depend on the integrity, professionalism and commitment of staff members working at all levels of the commission.
Amupitan announced that the commission would introduce a system of rewards for hardworking and dedicated employees, while officers found guilty of administrative misconduct would face strict disciplinary measures.
“There should be no compromise whatsoever. Work hard, work selflessly, shun corruption and give Nigerians the credible elections they deserve,” he said.
On staff welfare, the INEC chairman disclosed that the commission has commenced a comprehensive review of employees’ welfare packages across the country to improve motivation and productivity.
He noted that staff welfare was one of the major concerns identified shortly after he assumed office and assured workers that meaningful improvements would soon become evident.
According to him, a stable democratic system depends largely on the credibility and independence of the nation’s electoral body.
As part of his visit, Amupitan also monitored the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise at the registration centre located within the INEC state headquarters in Minna.
