The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, has warned electoral officers against partisan conduct, negligence and any action capable of undermining the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
Amupitan gave the warning on Monday in Lagos during a meeting with electoral officers from across the South-West, stressing that officials must remain neutral and administer elections in accordance with the law.
The INEC chairman said officials had taken an oath to conduct elections without favouring any political party or candidate, adding that their decisions must be guided by the law rather than considerations of who might benefit from them.
He urged electoral officers to strictly follow procedures established by law and directives issued by the commission. According to him, officials should not improvise when confronted with challenges but should report such issues through the appropriate channels.
Amupitan said the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend not only on the existence of sound electoral laws and technology but also on how faithfully officials implement the rules governing the electoral process.
He therefore charged electoral officers to understand their responsibilities, maintain neutrality, keep proper records of their actions and protect the integrity of the commission. He warned that decisions taken by officials could subsequently be subjected to public scrutiny or challenged in court.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that 10.7 million voters had been registered under the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise. He said the commission was working to improve the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards and strengthen the tracking and verification of results from polling units to the national collation centre.
He said the objective was to ensure that votes cast by Nigerians are visible, verifiable and properly accounted for at every stage of the electoral process.
The warning comes as INEC continues preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the commission expected to rely on strict adherence to electoral procedures and greater accountability among its officials to deliver credible polls.
