The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and transparent 2027 General Election as it hosted a delegation of the International Republican Institute (IRI) for a Pre-Election Assessment Mission (PEAM) in Abuja.
The IRI delegation, led by its President, Dr. Dan Twining, is in Nigeria from August 11 to 21, 2026, to assess INEC’s preparedness for the 2027 elections and identify areas where international collaboration and technical support could strengthen the electoral process.
Speaking during an interactive session with the delegation, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, described the visit as timely, coming shortly after the successful conduct of the Osun State off-cycle governorship election and ahead of the commencement of campaigns for the 2027 General Election.
Amupitan said INEC had utilised recent off-cycle elections and legislative by-elections as operational tests to improve its electoral technology, logistics and security coordination.
He disclosed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal had continued to demonstrate high levels of operational reliability, with result-upload rates exceeding 98 per cent in recent elections.
According to him, the development has contributed to greater transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
The INEC Chairman said the Commission was preparing for one of the largest electoral operations in the country’s history, with plans to deploy approximately 1.4 million ad hoc personnel across more than 176,000 polling units nationwide for the 2027 elections.
He added that the Commission was strengthening its logistics arrangements, expanding early deployment strategies and improving collaboration with transport unions to facilitate the timely movement of election materials and personnel.
Amupitan also highlighted ongoing reforms in voter registration, including online voter registration and continuous updates to the voters’ register, aimed at improving its accuracy and integrity.
He said INEC was equally committed to making the electoral process more inclusive by improving access for persons with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers and elderly voters.
On emerging threats to electoral integrity, the INEC Chairman identified misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of artificial intelligence as major concerns ahead of the 2027 polls.
He disclosed that the Commission had established an AI-focused unit to develop protocols for the responsible use of artificial intelligence while addressing false information capable of undermining public confidence in elections.
Amupitan reiterated INEC’s neutrality, stressing that the Commission had no preference for any political party or candidate but remained focused on delivering elections that reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
He cited the recent Osun State governorship election as evidence of the Commission’s commitment to credible and peaceful elections, while acknowledging the need to improve voter turnout in future elections.
Speaking on behalf of the IRI delegation, Twining said the institute’s mission was to support a competitive, peaceful and credible electoral process in Nigeria.
He said the delegation was interested in understanding INEC’s preparations, assessing potential challenges and exploring ways the international community could contribute to strengthening Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“We know how committed Nigerians are to exercising their democratic rights,” Twining said, adding that IRI’s interest was in seeing a “competitive, peaceful and credible election in Nigeria.”
He expressed the institute’s readiness to learn more about INEC’s preparations and identify areas where it could support the country’s democratic process.
The engagement underscored growing collaboration between INEC and international partners as Nigeria moves towards the 2027 General Election.
