INEC: Perfect Election Not Possible in 2027, but Poll Will Be Nigeria’s Best — Amupitan

INEC: Perfect Election Not Possible in 2027, but Poll Will Be Nigeria’s Best — Amupitan

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Ojo Amupitan, has said the commission cannot guarantee a completely flawless election in 2027, especially with regard to real-time electronic transmission of results, but assured Nigerians that the polls would mark a major improvement over previous elections.

Amupitan spoke at a Citizens’ Townhall Meeting organised by the Civil Society Network on Election Integrity in Abuja, where he acknowledged logistical, technical, and human limitations in large-scale elections, stressing that absolute perfection is unrealistic anywhere in the world.

He explained that while INEC has the capacity to electronically transmit results, delays may still occur due to network and operational factors. Using a banking analogy, he said results may be successfully transmitted even if they do not appear instantly, warning against interpreting such delays as evidence of manipulation.

Reflecting on the 2023 general elections, Amupitan admitted that while INEC tested its technology during state and off-cycle polls, it failed to adequately test nationwide, simultaneous transmission during the presidential election. He said this gap has now been identified and would be fully addressed before 2027 through extensive system testing and stress simulations.

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He added that the credibility of any election depends largely on logistics and result management, citing the recent FCT Area Council elections, where results were declared promptly in five councils, while delays occurred in one ward in Kuje. According to him, an election should be judged successful if it starts on time, is peaceful, and results are transparently managed and declared according to law.

Amupitan also called for simpler language in the Electoral Act 2026, arguing that clearer provisions would help citizens better understand electoral rules and reduce post-election disputes.

Despite the challenges, the INEC chairman expressed optimism that the 2027 elections would be Nigeria’s most credible yet, noting that voters are more informed, politically aware, and technologically savvy than ever before.

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Reactions from Civil Society and Political Parties

Reacting to Amupitan’s comments, civil society organisations welcomed INEC’s admission of past shortcomings but urged the commission to translate promises into concrete reforms.

The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, said acknowledging limitations was a positive step, but warned that public trust hinges on consistent transparency, especially around result transmission and communication with voters on election night.

Similarly, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) said INEC must prioritise logistics, voter education, and accountability for electoral offenders to avoid a repeat of controversies seen in previous elections.

From the political space, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said INEC’s statement reinforced the need for stronger legal safeguards and independent oversight, warning that technological failures could be exploited by desperate politicians.

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), however, urged Nigerians to focus on reforms already underway, saying early preparation and improved testing could restore confidence in the electoral process.

INEC: Perfect Election Not Possible in 2027, but Poll Will Be Nigeria’s Best — Amupitan