INEC sets zero-failure plan for 2027 polls

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has unveiled a comprehensive "zero-failure" operational plan for the 2027 general elections, according to its chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan. Speaking in Kaduna, Amupitan cautioned against partisanship, negligence, and deviations from established procedures, emphasizing that the credibility of the polls would hinge largely on the behavior and competence of officials at polling stations.

Amupitan highlighted past lessons learned from previous elections and recent off-cycle polls, noting that the success of the Osun governorship election had raised expectations for the 2027 general elections, which would see all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory participating. The elections are scheduled for January 16 for the Presidential and National Assembly contests, followed by February 6 for the governorship and state Houses of Assembly races.

The chairman identified voter apathy, declining public trust, and misinformation/disinformation as significant challenges facing the electoral process. INEC aims to tackle these issues by strengthening its technology, result management systems, voter verification, and result transmission mechanisms ahead of the elections.

Voter registration efforts have been fruitful, with the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) program between August 2025 and July 2026 registering 10,772,421 new voters. INEC has also introduced online registration and printable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to minimize delays and prevent disenfranchisement due to logistical issues.

Additionally, the commission has begun procuring and distributing new operational vehicles to state and local government offices to enhance the mobility, security, and efficiency of electoral officials, particularly in challenging terrain.

INEC has also introduced a new salary structure for its staff and raised overhead costs for state offices by 150 percent, effective July 2026, to alleviate operational difficulties. The chairman urged officials to remain neutral, emphasizing that their duty was to enforce the law rather than champion any particular candidate or political party.

During a zonal visit to the Emir of Zazzau in Kaduna, INEC's Supervising National Commissioner for Kaduna, Mohammed Kudu Haruna, noted that such visits help identify operational challenges and address issues observed in prior elections. Haruna mentioned that the Emir had expressed concerns over the delayed opening of polling units during the 2023 general elections.