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<p>By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa</p><div class="k5VRyjOZ" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>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.</p>
<p>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&#8217;s electoral landscape and restore public confidence.</p>
<p>“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.</p><div class="nAW2Qc1n" style="clear:both;float:left;width:100%;margin:0 0 20px 0;"><script async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>

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<p>Building on Past Performance</p>
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<p>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.</p>
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<p>“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.</p>
<p>Five Non-Negotiable Pillars and the Youth Vote</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>Rule of Law as Operating System</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>A Watershed Election and Zero Tolerance for Misconduct</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>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.”</p>
<p>Strengthening Institutional Readiness</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>“As we move towards the 2027 General Election, early planning, strategic coordination, and institutional unity are critical,” Salami said.</p>
<p>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.</p>
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