2027 ELECTIONS: Every Decision Will Reflect Nigerians’ Will- INEC Vows
Oru Leonard
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured electorates that the conduct of the 2027 general elections will be transparent, credible, inclusive and peaceful.
The assurance came as the African Union (AU) Pre-Election Needs Assessment Mission began engagements with the electoral body in Abuja on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
The AU delegation is led by former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, His Excellency Demeke Mekonnen, who is in Nigeria to assess the country’s electoral preparedness and identify areas where additional support may be required.
Receiving the delegation at INEC’s headquarters, Acting Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Rhoda Gumus, described the AU mission as an important opportunity for peer assessment, institutional learning and strengthening of Nigeria’s electoral processes.
Gumus said INEC values its partnership with the African Union in promoting democratic standards and credible electoral governance across Africa.
According to her, the mission goes beyond a routine engagement, providing an opportunity to strengthen institutional resilience and enhance public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system.
She said the Commission had commenced extensive operational, technological and logistical preparations for the 2027 elections, with the objective of ensuring that all eligible Nigerians are able to participate effectively.
The Acting Chairman noted that lessons from recent off-cycle elections in Anambra, the Federal Capital Territory, Ekiti and Osun states would continue to inform the Commission’s preparations.
She identified areas where AU technical and institutional support would be particularly useful, including digital training for ad hoc election personnel, combating election-related disinformation and deepfakes, strengthening the Election Monitoring and Support Centre, as well as improving inclusivity and gender-mainstreaming frameworks.
Gumus also stressed that electoral integrity requires the collective efforts of INEC, political parties, civil society organisations, security agencies, the media, development partners and the electorate.
She reiterated the Commission’s commitment to independence, neutrality and professionalism in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities.
She further assured the delegation that under the current Commission led by Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, administrative decisions would be guided by the law, while technological deployments would be directed towards enhancing transparency.
Gumus said the Commission’s objective is for the 2027 General Election to produce an outcome that reflects the sovereign will of Nigerian voters.
Speaking on the mission, its leader, Demeke Mekonnen, said the AU engagement was designed as a supportive and consultative process aimed at reviewing preparations already underway, identifying gaps and risks, and exploring areas for possible technical assistance.
He said the delegation would engage INEC and other key stakeholders on issues including voter registration and the integrity of the voters’ register, electoral technology, logistics, funding, inclusion, transparency, dispute resolution, security coordination and results management.
Mekonnen reaffirmed the African Union’s partnership with Nigeria in strengthening democratic governance and electoral processes across the continent.
The mission’s engagement with Nigerian stakeholders is expected to contribute to the AU’s assessment of the country’s preparedness ahead of the 2027 General Election.
