The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, said Sunday that the commission has the capacity to electronically transmit election results in 2027 but cautioned that it cannot guarantee a “100 percent perfect election.”
Amupitan made the remarks during a live Citizens’ Town Hall program, “Electoral Act 2026: What it means for your votes and the 2027 elections,” anchored by Seun Okinbaloye and Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa.
Participants included All Progressives Congress National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda, Labour Party Interim National Chairman Nenadi Usman, former Education Minister Oby Ezekwesili, and Senator Ireti Kingibe.
“Let me appeal to Nigerians, because I have noticed that people desire a perfect election. INEC will strive to give the country the best election. However, we may not be able to achieve a 100 percent perfect election for now,” he said. “As far as electronic transmission of results is concerned, we have the capacity to transmit the results. The only concern is real-time reporting.”
Amupitan described elections as central to democratic governance and stressed the importance of voter education and transparency.
“Elections are the lifeblood of democracy. The ignorance of a voter is inimical to the security of a nation. That is why the role of INEC and civil society in guaranteeing credible elections cannot be understated,” he said.
He said INEC was actively involved in shaping the Electoral Act 2026, which took about three years to complete through a joint committee of the National Assembly, civil society, and the commission.
On electronic result transmission, a key issue following the 2023 elections, Amupitan said the commission pushed for mandatory transmission during legislative discussions. He cited recent Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections as an example of logistical challenges in real-time reporting, especially in remote areas.
“Results came out on time in five councils. But in Kuje’s Kabi ward, results did not arrive until the next day due to difficult terrain and poor network access. This shows that transmission itself is not the problem; logistics are,” he said.
Amupitan emphasized that operational lapses could undermine public confidence. “Your election can be as good as your logistics. Where there is logistics failure, you begin to fail,” he said, adding that human errors observed in the FCT poll are being addressed.
He expressed optimism that the 2027 elections would improve over previous polls, citing increased voter awareness and demand for accountability.
INEC Reviews Political Party Regulations
INEC has begun a comprehensive review of regulations and guidelines for political parties to strengthen electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 elections, the commission said Sunday.
According to Chief Press Secretary Adedayo Oketola, a technical workshop in Abuja led by Amupitan will involve national commissioners, directors, legal experts, and institutional stakeholders. Participants will review the 2022 regulatory framework clause by clause to align party regulations with the Electoral Act 2026 and address emerging electoral realities.
Amupitan said the review seeks to strengthen compliance, reduce pre-election disputes, and enhance transparency. “For elections to inspire public confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must operate transparently and within the law,” he said.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy is providing technical support, and the commission plans to finalize a consolidated draft of revised regulations before consulting registered political parties.
Political Parties Begin Digital Membership Registration
In line with the Electoral Act 2026, the Peoples Democratic Party and African Democratic Congress have begun nationwide digital membership registration exercises.
The PDP announced Monday that the exercise will run for three weeks, with registration available at ward, chapter, and state offices across Nigeria. The ADC said its free online platform, accessible at www.adcregistration.ng, allows members to register or revalidate in compliance with the new law.
The ruling All Progressives Congress may also reopen its e-registration portal to allow more members to sign up following consultations among stakeholders.
2027 Election Dates Set
INEC has scheduled the 2027 Presidential and National Assembly elections for Jan. 16, and Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections for Feb. 6. The revised timetable followed adjustments to avoid conflicts with Ramadan and changes to the mandatory election notice period.
