The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has sought to reassure Nigerians that the electoral umpire possesses the technical and operational capacity to electronically transmit election results during the 2027 general elections, while also cautioning the public against expecting a flawless process devoid of any challenges.
Amupitan, however, was careful to temper expectations, stressing that although the commission would aim for the highest possible standards, no election anywhere in the world could be guaranteed to be “100 per cent perfect,” given the complex human, logistical, and infrastructural factors involved in conducting nationwide polls.
He made these remarks on Sunday during a Citizens’ Town Hall programme aired live on major television networks, an interactive public engagement forum themed ‘Electoral Act 2026: What it means for your votes and the 2027 elections’, which focused on educating Nigerians about recent electoral reforms and their implications.
The live discussion was anchored by renowned broadcaster Seun Okinbaloye and the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, both of whom guided conversations around electoral integrity, technology, and public trust in democratic institutions.
Also present at the forum were key political and civic figures, including the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda; the Interim National Chairman of the Labour Party, Nenadi Usman; former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili; and Senator Ireti Kingibe, among others.
Addressing the audience, Amupitan appealed to Nigerians to approach the 2027 elections with realistic expectations, emphasising that while INEC was committed to delivering credible polls, perfection should not be the benchmark by which success was measured.
“Let me just appeal to Nigerians, because I have noticed now that what Nigerians desire is a perfect election. And INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election,” he said, acknowledging the high level of public scrutiny surrounding electoral processes.
He added a note of caution, stating, “However, we may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now. But as far as electronic transmission of results is concerned, I said it before the FCT Area Council that we have the capacity to transmit the results, and that we’re going to transmit the results. The only concern was real-time.”
Amupitan described elections as the backbone of democratic governance, underscoring the importance of informed voters, transparent institutions, and credible processes in sustaining national stability and development.
“Election, for that matter, is the lifeblood of democracy. According to Abraham Lincoln, the ballot is more powerful than the bullets. Also, the ignorance of a voter is very inimical to the security of a nation,” he said, stressing the dangers of voter apathy and misinformation.
He explained that these realities informed INEC’s collaboration with civil society organisations, noting, “So, that is why we cannot underscore the role of INEC, as well as the civil society, in guaranteeing a transparent and credible election.”
The INEC chairman further revealed that the commission played an active role in shaping the Electoral Act 2026, explaining that the amendment process began nearly three years ago through a joint committee involving members of the National Assembly, civil society groups, and INEC itself.
“As of the time I was taking over, the work was almost concluded. But nonetheless, we still made some important provisions and recommendations in the new acts,” Amupitan said, highlighting INEC’s input in refining key sections of the law.
Turning to the highly debated issue of electronic transmission of results—particularly controversial after the 2023 general elections—he disclosed that INEC had advocated strongly for mandatory transmission during legislative engagements.
“Now, even talking about the transmission of the results, you will notice that the original provision that came out of the retreat from the National Assembly was not exactly what you have today,” he explained, suggesting that compromises were made during the lawmaking process.
He added, “But when INEC came in, we talked of transmission being mandatory. But let us be sincere and honest. The only problem that we had was how to define what we call real time.”
To illustrate the practical difficulties surrounding real-time transmission, Amupitan cited the recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections, pointing to challenges encountered in remote and difficult terrains.
“Let’s look at the FCT area council election that just took place. Now, there are six area councils in the FCT. The results came out on time in five area councils. But in the Kuje area council, we have 10 wards. And the results in one ward, Kabi, did not come until the following day, Sunday,” he said.
He went on to describe the logistical hurdles faced by election officials in that ward, noting, “Now, on Saturday, when we mobilised and sent people to that ward from Kuje town, Kabi ward is about three-and-a-half hours’ drive. And the terrain is very bad. So I was worried.”
According to him, communication challenges compounded the situation. “When we sent our polling officials and security agencies to that ward, the moment they entered that place, we could not reach them. They were not accessible by phone. And nobody could speak to them until we had to send somebody on Saturday morning, just to be sure that they were safe,” he explained.
He said the results were eventually physically conveyed for collation. “They brought the results to Kuje town. And then it was collated along with the remaining nine wards before the result could be declared,” Amupitan added.
Despite these delays, the INEC boss insisted that electronic transmission itself was not the fundamental issue. “I don’t see the issue of transmission as really a problem. I don’t see it as an issue because, from my little experience, over four months now in INEC, the problem is not even the network,” he said.
He clarified further, stating, “The problem I have seen is the adequacy of the network we have. For instance, you expect that in a place like FCT, you should be able to transmit your results without any encumbrance. But we had a situation where it was impossible for us to have a real-time transmission of results, especially from the Kabi ward, until the following day.”
Amupitan linked the credibility of elections closely to logistics, warning that operational failures could erode public trust. “So, talking about logistics, I’ve said it often that your election can be as good as your logistics. So, where there is logistics failure, you know that you are beginning to fail,” he cautioned.
While admitting that the FCT polls experienced shortcomings, including human errors, he said the commission was already taking corrective steps. “As a regulatory body, we’re determined to achieve all this. But nonetheless, we have to admit that there were some logistical issues. Some were purely human, which we are trying to address,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Amupitan expressed strong optimism about the 2027 general elections, arguing that increased political awareness among Nigerians would drive improvements in electoral outcomes.
“But I want to assure you that the election of 2027 will be the best election that Nigerians will have because Nigerians of 2023 are different from what you have in 2027. People are much more aware,” he said.
He concluded by linking credible elections to national development and public confidence, adding, “Nobody is happy about the classification of Nigeria as an underdeveloped country. So we want a situation where our process will be able to guarantee the confidence and the transparency that people want to see in their system.
“So, by the time you have a transparent election, and people begin to trust INEC and trust their leaders, then the country will move forward,” he stated.
INEC moves to overhaul party rules ahead of 2027 polls
The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced an extensive review of its regulations and guidelines governing political parties, marking a major step in its preparations to strengthen electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections and to fully align party operations with the newly assented Electoral Act 2026.
The initiative, which forms part of INEC’s broader institutional reform agenda, is aimed at tightening oversight of political parties, improving internal compliance culture, reducing the incidence of pre-election disputes, and restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process at a time of heightened political activity nationwide.
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Adedayo Oketola, the commission disclosed that the review exercise was convened in Abuja under the leadership of the INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, and represents a critical phase in adapting electoral administration to new legal and operational realities.
According to the statement, the review is designed to ensure that existing party regulations are fully harmonised with the Electoral Act 2026, while also addressing emerging challenges observed in recent election cycles, particularly those linked to internal party governance and regulatory compliance.
INEC explained that the technical workshop on the revision of its regulations would bring together national commissioners, directors from key operational departments, legal practitioners, election administrators, and other institutional stakeholders with deep experience in electoral management and democratic governance.
Participants at the workshop are expected to “undertake a detailed clause-by-clause review of the 2022 regulatory framework governing political parties,” with the aim of identifying gaps, ambiguities, and areas requiring strengthening in light of the new law.
The commission noted that the Electoral Act 2026 introduces far-reaching legal and operational changes that directly affect political party administration, including candidate nomination processes, compliance obligations, dispute resolution mechanisms, and the scope of INEC’s regulatory authority.
As a result, INEC said it was imperative to update its subsidiary regulations well ahead of the next electoral cycle to provide clarity for political parties and to avoid confusion or litigation arising from misinterpretation of the law.
Beyond the need for legal alignment, the commission said it was deliberately drawing lessons from previous elections to shift its regulatory approach from reactive enforcement to preventive and proactive supervision.
INEC identified persistent challenges such as opaque party primaries, unresolved membership disputes, weak financial disclosure practices, and exclusionary participation patterns as recurring issues that have contributed to avoidable court cases and electoral uncertainty over the years.
To support evidence-based reforms, the commission revealed that it was integrating findings from the Political Party Performance Index, a diagnostic tool developed to identify systemic weaknesses in party governance, internal democracy, and compliance practices across the country.
According to INEC, the ultimate objective of the review exercise is to anchor political party regulation on measurable standards that encourage transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness, rather than relying solely on post-violation sanctions.
Speaking on the reform process, Amupitan emphasised the central role of political parties in democratic consolidation, stating, “For elections to inspire public confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must themselves operate transparently and within the law.”
He further explained that the workshop was expected to yield strengthened compliance mechanisms, clearer reporting obligations, and practical operational guidance for monitoring political party activities nationwide.
“The workshop is also expected to develop strengthened compliance mechanisms, clearer reporting obligations, and operational guidance for monitoring political party activities nationwide,” he said.
Amupitan added that special focus was being placed on key areas of concern within party administration. “Particular attention is being given to financial accountability, dispute prevention, accurate membership documentation, and measurable benchmarks for the participation of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities within party structures,” he stated.
INEC disclosed that the review process was receiving technical facilitation support from the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, alongside Nigerian legal and electoral experts who are providing comparative and technical insights to support the commission’s reform objectives.
Commenting on the initiative, the Nigeria Country Director of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, Adebowale Olorunmola, described the exercise as a significant milestone in strengthening political party regulation ahead of the 2027 elections.
“This isn’t just a review of a document; it is a reconstruction of the democratic foundation,” Olorunmola said, underscoring the depth and importance of the process.
He added, “We are moving toward an era where political parties are held to the same high standards of integrity as the electoral commission itself,” noting that credible elections depend as much on party behaviour as on election-day administration.
Olorunmola further argued that grounding regulatory reforms in empirical evidence, including insights from the Political Party Performance Index, would help deepen compliance, reduce unnecessary electoral disputes, and promote greater transparency, inclusivity, and internal democracy within political parties.
INEC also stated that early alignment of party regulations with the Electoral Act 2026 would significantly reduce pre-election litigation and administrative disputes that often divert attention and resources away from election preparation and effective poll delivery.
At the conclusion of the exercise, the commission said a consolidated draft of the Revised Regulations and Guidelines (2026 Edition) would undergo internal validation before broader engagement with the Inter-Party Advisory Council and all registered political parties as part of extensive implementation consultations.
Reaffirming its stance, INEC said it remained committed to continuous electoral reform and to ensuring that political parties function as strong democratic institutions capable of producing credible leadership choices for Nigerians.
Meanwhile, in compliance with the requirements of the Electoral Act 2026 ahead of the 2027 general elections, several political parties have begun nationwide digital membership registration exercises to meet new statutory obligations.
The Peoples Democratic Party announced the commencement of its electronic membership registration following a decision by its National Working Committee led by Tanimu Turaki.
In a statement issued on Saturday by the PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party disclosed that the nationwide electronic registration would begin on Monday.
According to the party, “This exercise will begin on Monday, March 2, 2026, and will last for three weeks,” with registration taking place across all wards, chapters, and state offices of the party, except Sundays.
The PDP explained that, “The essence of this exercise is to compile the digital membership register in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026, which requires all political parties to submit the digital register of their members to the Independent National Electoral Commission.”
The party added that a special committee headed by its National Organising Secretary, Theophilus Shan, had been constituted to oversee the process and address complaints, while urging members of the public to visit their nearest PDP offices for registration.
Similarly, the African Democratic Congress disclosed that it had commenced free nationwide online membership registration and directed existing members to update and revalidate their information in line with the Electoral Act 2026 and INEC guidelines.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said, “The African Democratic Congress has officially commenced free online membership registration across Nigeria, following the successful kick-off of its nationwide registration and revalidation exercise in Abuja last month.”
The ADC noted that its digital platform was designed to meet legal requirements, adding, “The new digital registration platform, accessible via www.adcregistration.ng, is designed to enable the party to meet the requirements of the new Electoral Act 2026 regarding the digital membership register.”
It stressed that only members captured and verified on the official digital register would be eligible to participate in party primaries, while also emphasising that manual registration would continue concurrently nationwide.
The party, however, maintained its opposition to aspects of the new law, stating, “ADC would like to emphasise that this exercise is without prejudice to our firm objections to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 that give undue advantage to the ruling party, as well as the consequential INEC timetable.”
Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress may also resume its e-registration exercise, which began in January and was extended to February 8, to allow more Nigerians to sign up as members.
A source within the APC disclosed that internal consultations were ongoing, saying, “With the new Electoral Act requirements, political parties are making efforts to adjust and fine-tune their schedules.”
The source added, “As it stands, APC leaders, after consultations, discussions, and deliberations among key stakeholders, may resume the e-registration exercise this week to accommodate more members, especially as they still have sufficient time.”
The developments are unfolding against the backdrop of INEC’s revised election timetable, which now fixes the Presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, and the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for February 6, 2027, following amendments to the Electoral Act to address concerns raised by stakeholders.