Prof. Joash Amupitan, INEC Chairman
- Warns Against Attacks On Electoral Officials, Corps Members
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has ruled out any change to the timetable for the 2027 general election without lawful justification, insisting that the polls must hold as scheduled.
He also warned that anyone who attacks electoral officials, including members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) deployed for election duties, will face the full weight of the law. Amupitan spoke on Saturday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, during an interactive meeting with INEC staff from the six South-South states to assess the commission’s preparedness for the forthcoming elections.
He said the commission would adhere strictly to its statutory obligations, adding that the election timetable would not be altered without lawful justification. “Our statutory timeline is fixed. We will not change anything. The election must be held as scheduled,” he said.
The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission was processing requests for corrections to the voters’ register ahead of the release of the final register scheduled for December 15. He announced that Rivers State would receive particular attention in INEC’s preparations because it has the highest number of registered voters in the South-South geopolitical zone.
According to figures released by the commission, Rivers State has 3,736,434 registered voters, followed by Delta with 3,525,988; Edo, 2,865,263; Akwa Ibom, 2,566,198; Cross River, 1,928,978; and Bayelsa, 1,200,691. The six states have a combined total of 15,823,550 registered voters.
Amupitan said the large number of registered voters in Rivers State placed an additional responsibility on INEC officials to ensure that no eligible voter was disenfranchised because of operational failures.
“With the 3,736,434 registered voters for Rivers State, the state leads the South-South. As a result, the commission will pay closer attention to what happens in Rivers State. It is your duty to ensure that no voter is disenfranchised because of operational failures,” he said.
On the voters’ register, Amupitan said INEC had published the document online and at designated locations for public scrutiny. He disclosed that the commission had received more than 5,000 requests for corrections, covering details such as names and dates of birth, as well as over 600 objections.
He said the commission was addressing the submissions ahead of the December 15 deadline for releasing the final register. The INEC chairman explained that he had initially considered revalidating the entire voters’ register after assuming office but abandoned the proposal out of concern that the exercise could come too close to the general election.
Amupitan expressed confidence in the commission’s ability to conduct peaceful, transparent and credible elections, citing lessons from recent off-cycle governorship elections, particularly the Osun State governorship poll. He described the Osun election as encouraging, noting that it recorded the highest voter turnout in the state’s off-cycle election history and received positive assessments despite earlier security concerns.
“Osun State elections gave us the confidence that we can achieve this despite the noise. It is good that we had a series of those elections before the general elections because we learn lessons from every election,” he said.
He added that INEC would build on the experiences gained from the off-cycle elections to strengthen its preparations for the 2027 polls. “We will conduct elections that will move the nation forward and not an election that will bring it down,” he assured Nigerians.
On security, Amupitan said INEC was working with relevant agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS), to safeguard voters, electoral personnel, ad hoc staff and election materials. He stressed that Nigerians must be able to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and exercise their voting rights without fear of intimidation or violence.
“We want every part of Nigeria to be calm during the elections so that people can come out to vote. We will not tell them to take their PVCs and then will not guarantee their safety,” he said.
Amupitan also dismissed suggestions that artificial intelligence (AI) or computer algorithms could determine the outcome of the 2027 general election, insisting that the electorate would decide the results.
“It is the people of Nigeria that will decide the outcome of the elections and not AI or any algorithms,” he declared.
He, however, acknowledged the growing cybersecurity threats associated with emerging technologies, saying the commission was exploring ways to deploy technology to strengthen the protection of its digital infrastructure against potential attacks.
The INEC chairman urged electoral personnel across the South-South to remain professional and committed to their duties, noting that the credibility of the 2027 elections would depend largely on the conduct of officials at polling units and other field locations.
He warned that anyone who threatened or attacked electoral officials, including NYSC members deployed for election duties, would face legal consequences.
“Anyone who threatens or harms INEC officials, including National Youth Service Corps members deployed for election duties, will face the full weight of the law,” he warned.
Amupitan also cautioned electoral officers against partisanship, negligence, absenteeism and financial misconduct, stressing that such violations would attract disciplinary action.
He said the readiness assessment meeting was designed to identify operational weaknesses, address logistical challenges and strengthen the commission’s preparations ahead of the 2027 general election.
