The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Joash Amupitan, has told Nigerians that the commission can transmit election results electronically ahead of the 2027 general elections. He, however, cautioned that a flawless process cannot be guaranteed.
Amupitan spoke during the Citizens’ Town Hall programme broadcast on major television networks under the theme, ‘Electoral Act 2026: What it means for your votes and the 2027 elections.’
He urged Nigerians to moderate their expectations, as the commission would work to deliver credible polls without promising perfection.
“Let me just appeal to Nigerians, because I have noticed now that what Nigerians desire is a perfect election. And INEC will strive as much as possible to give this country the best election.
“However, we may not be able to achieve a 100 per cent perfect election for now. But as far as electronic transmission of results is concerned, I said it before the FCT Area Council that we have the capacity to transmit the results, and that we’re going to transmit the results. The only concern was real-time,” he stated.
The INEC chairman described elections as the backbone of democracy. He stressed the need for voter awareness and institutional openness.
“Election, for that matter, is the lifeblood of democracy. According to Abraham Lincoln, the ballot is more powerful than the bullets. Also, the ignorance of a voter is very inimical to the security of a nation.
“So, that is why we cannot underscore the role of INEC, as well as the civil society, in guaranteeing a transparent and credible election,” he stated.
He also explained that the commission contributed to the development of the Electoral Act 2026 through collaboration with lawmakers and civil society groups.
On electronic transmission, Amupitan said INEC pushed for it to be made compulsory during legislative discussions. He noted that the major concern remains how to define real-time transmission.
Using the recent FCT Area Council elections as an example, he pointed out that difficult terrain and limited network coverage delayed the arrival of results from some locations. He said one ward in Kuje Area Council could not submit results until the next day due to accessibility challenges.
Despite such setbacks, he maintained that transmission itself is not the main issue. He identified network adequacy and logistics as key challenges.
“I don’t see the issue of transmission as really a problem. I don’t see it as an issue because, from my little experience, over four months now in INEC, the problem is not even the network.
“The problem I have seen is the adequacy of the network we have. For instance, you expect that in a place like FCT, you should be able to transmit your results without any encumbrance. But we had a situation where it was impossible for us to have a real-time transmission of results, especially from the Kabi ward, until the following day. And in some of the wards, some results were transmitted,” he said.
He warned that poor logistics could affect the credibility of elections.
“So, talking about logistics, I’ve said it often that your election can be as good as your logistics. So, where there is logistics failure, you know that you are beginning to fail.”
Amupitan admitted that the FCT poll recorded some operational challenges. He said steps are already in place to address them.
“As a regulatory body, we’re determined to achieve all this. But nonetheless, we have to admit that there were some logistical issues. Some were purely human, which we are trying to address,” he added.
He expressed confidence that the 2027 elections would be an improvement. He linked this to increased public awareness and growing demand for accountability.
“But I want to assure you that the election of 2027 will be the best election that Nigerians will have because Nigerians of 2023 are different from what you have in 2027. People are much more aware. And you know the correlation between elections and development.
“Nobody is happy about the classification of Nigeria as an underdeveloped country. So we want a situation where our process will be able to guarantee the confidence and the transparency that people want to see in their system.
“So, by the time you have a transparent election, and people begin to trust INEC and trust their leaders, then the country will move forward,” he stated.
Meanwhile, INEC has begun reviewing its regulations and guidelines for political parties as part of preparations for the 2027 elections. The exercise aims to align existing rules with the Electoral Act 2026 and improve transparency, compliance, and internal democracy within parties.
The commission said the review would involve commissioners, legal experts, and other stakeholders. It added that the process would address recurring issues such as disputes in party primaries, weak financial disclosures, and membership irregularities.
Amupitan stressed the importance of transparency within political parties.
“For elections to inspire public confidence, the institutions that produce candidates must themselves operate transparently and within the law.
‘’The workshop is also expected to develop strengthened compliance mechanisms, clearer reporting obligations, and operational guidance for monitoring political party activities nationwide.
‘’Particular attention is being given to financial accountability, dispute prevention, accurate membership documentation, and measurable benchmarks for the participation of women, youth, and Persons with Disabilities within party structures.’’
The commission said a revised set of regulations would be finalised after consultations with political parties.
At the same time, major political parties have started updating their membership records in line with the new law. The Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress have launched nationwide digital registration exercises. The ruling All Progressives Congress may also reopen its registration portal to allow more members to enrol.
INEC has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections will hold on February 6, 2027, following adjustments to the electoral timetable.
