2027: We've moved beyond administration to physical readiness assessment - INEC tells ECOWAS

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof Joash Amupitan, has announced that INEC has conducted a physical readiness assessment across four of Nigeria's six geopolitical zones ahead of the 2027 general election. This assessment, which began in the South-West, included visits to Lagos, Kaduna, Enugu, and the North-East zone.

Amupitan stated that the Commission would proceed to the South-South zone and conclude the assessments in the North-Central zone, with the latter visit scheduled for the following week. The purpose of these zonal engagements was to evaluate operational preparedness, identify challenges, and ensure that electoral officials understood their responsibilities for the 2027 elections.

INEC has already successfully completed nine out of the 14 scheduled activities under its election timetable, in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act 2026. The zonal visits also provided an opportunity for INEC to gather reports from states on their preparations, particularly concerning logistics, security, and other challenges that could impact the election.

Amupitan emphasized that the assessments would help INEC identify specific challenges in different states and make necessary adjustments to its overall election plan. He noted that the Commission had identified areas requiring earlier deployment of electoral materials and personnel due to difficult terrain and security concerns.

The presence of the ECOWAS Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission, led by former Sierra Leone Vice-President Victor Bockarie Foh, was seen by Amupitan as a reflection of a shared commitment to democratic governance and electoral accountability across West Africa. The mission, part of ECOWAS' conflict prevention framework, aimed to assess INEC's and other stakeholders' preparedness for the elections.

The delegation would meet with political party leaders, government officials, electoral authorities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to gather information on the political atmosphere, candidates, and conditions surrounding the elections.