By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has pledged that the 2027 General Elections will be free, fair, transparent, and driven by technology, warning that misconduct will not be tolerated.

Speaking on Thursday at the opening of a two-day induction and strategic retreat for top officials in Lagos, Amupitan outlined an ambitious vision to meet the evolving demands of Nigeria’s electoral landscape and restore public confidence.

“We are gathered here not just as electoral administrators, but as custodians of the will of the Nigerian people. This retreat is a bridge between our institutional experience and the innovative demands of a fast-evolving electoral landscape,” the Chairman stated.

Building on Past Performance

Amupitan commended INEC staff for their conduct during the November 2025 Anambra State governorship election, calling it a “defining moment” early in his tenure. He emphasized that upcoming polls—including the February 2026 Federal Capital Territory Area Council elections and off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States—would serve as critical tests for the Commission’s preparedness.

“They are not routine exercises, but opportunities to fine-tune our processes and ensure that every technical and logistical gear is well oiled ahead of the 2027 polls,” he said.

Five Non-Negotiable Pillars and the Youth Vote

The INEC boss identified five core principles that will guide the Commission’s work: free, fair, credible, transparent, and inclusive elections. He also highlighted the decisive role of first-time voters, particularly digitally-savvy youth, who he said “demand transparency in real time and have little tolerance for opacity.”

Rule of Law as Operating System

Amupitan stressed an uncompromising commitment to the legal framework governing elections. “Under my leadership, the rule of law is not a suggestion; it is our operating system,” he declared.

The retreat will focus on 17 thematic areas, including logistics, voter registration, election security, and political party management. “We must ensure that the Continuous Voter Registration and revalidation processes are beyond reproach,” he added.

A Watershed Election and Zero Tolerance for Misconduct

Setting a bold target, Amupitan stated that the 2027 election must be “a watershed in Nigeria’s electoral history,” aiming to establish INEC as “the best Election Management Body in Africa.”

He coupled this ambition with a stern warning: “I am committed to staff welfare, but any compromise of our values or processes will have consequences. There is no room for misconduct.”

Strengthening Institutional Readiness

In his opening remarks, Lagos State Resident Electoral Commissioner Prof. Ayobami Salami described the retreat as a milestone in INEC’s evolution, designed to strengthen leadership and operational readiness amid heightened public expectations.

“As we move towards the 2027 General Election, early planning, strategic coordination, and institutional unity are critical,” Salami said.

The retreat, which runs from January 9–10, aims to deepen institutional knowledge and foster cohesion within the Commission ahead of the major electoral cycle.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Rivers State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally rejected ongoing moves to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, warning that such action would destabilise the state and damage the party’s image.

Nigerian Tracker News earlier reported that the political crisis rocking Rivers State deepened on Thursday as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly commenced impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Oduh.

The move followed a plenary session presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, during which the Majority Leader, Major Jack, read a notice of allegations and claims of gross misconduct levelled against the governor.

No fewer than 26 lawmakers were said to have signed the notice, which the legislators alleged was in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.

Amaewhule announced that the notice would be served on Governor Fubara within the next seven days, in accordance with legislative procedure.

Similarly, the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Linda Stewart, read out a separate notice of allegations and gross misconduct against Deputy Governor Ngozi Oduh.

In a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by the Rivers APC spokesperson, Darlington Nwauju, the party said its leadership had taken note of the “unfortunate developments” emanating from the Rivers State House of Assembly.

While acknowledging the constitutional independence of the legislature and its role in checks and balances, the APC said it could not support an impeachment process against a governor elected on its platform.

“Our position as of today on this matter is that we solemnly reject the resort to an impeachment process against our Governor and his deputy,” the statement read.

The party warned against allowing internal disputes associated with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to spill into the APC, describing such a development as unacceptable.

Addressing claims that the impeachment threat is linked to budgetary issues, the APC recalled that during the period of emergency rule, a budget of ₦1.485 trillion was transmitted to the National Assembly by the President in May 2025 and subsequently approved by the Senate on June 25, 2025, and the House of Representatives on July 22, 2025.

According to the statement, the budget was designed to run for one year until August 2026, noting that the governor is not constitutionally compelled to present a supplementary budget if he is satisfied with the existing appropriation.

The party also cited constitutional provisions allowing a governor to spend for up to six months into a new fiscal year.

The APC leadership therefore urged members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, particularly its lawmakers, to resist what it described as “pressures from outside the Assembly chambers” aimed at destabilising the government.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that the Government of Rivers State, which is an APC government, is not destabilised through fratricidal disagreements,” the statement added.

The party called on the lawmakers to immediately discontinue the impeachment process, warning that proceeding with it could tarnish the APC’s image and undermine governance and development in the state.

“Let our state remain a democracy and not a politicocracy,” the statement noted.

The latest development comes amid the lingering political rift between Governor Fubara and his predecessor and political benefactor, Nyesom Wike, which has continued to polarise the state’s political structure.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had stated that Wike would “certainly be under” his successor, Fubara, should he decide to join the party, underscoring that leadership positions are tied to current office.

The APC Director of Information, Bala Ibrahim, made the comments during an interview on Trust TV.

Concerned Rivers People, CRP has revealed how Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara engaged social media influencers to tarnish image of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the CRP’s Director of Communication, Robinson Uke where he stated that:

“Bloggers engaged by public officials to influence politics in Nigeria has become the norm as we are aware of deliberate moves by Fubara to denigrate the hardworking FCT minister before Mr President.

“This obviously will not fly as we are also aware that some bloggers equally turned down mouth watering offers declaring that the minister has not in any way attacked the Rivers Governor either directly or indirectly.

Uke explained that: “All the FCT minister has said is that an agreement is an agreement, Fubara should swallow his pride and respect the agreement.

“This he has not done yet he is lavishing hard earned tax payers money of the state on social media influencers across the country without an Appropriation Act to back his spending.

“This development raises ethical concerns, as it undermines transparency and accountability in governance.

” The Nigerian government has responded by demanding approval for sponsored posts, citing concerns over misinformation and manipulation.

“We want to specially thank those bloggers who are standing by the truth and refused to be used by the drowning Fubara who has betrayal flowing in his DNA.

“To Fubara we wish him the best of luck in his political sojourn as an African proverb says a child who refuses to allow his mother to sleep, the child too will not sleep.