Credible Elections Key to National Security Ahead of 2027 Polls, Says INEC Chairman
Oru Leonard
ABUJA — The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, has stressed that credible elections are fundamental to Nigeria’s national security, warning that any compromise in the electoral process could threaten the country’s stability.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Lecture of the Alumni Association of the National Institute for Security Studies (AANISS) in Abuja on Thursday, Amupitan said elections and security must no longer be viewed as separate concerns but as “two sides of the same coin of national stability.”
He noted that while legal frameworks such as the Constitution and Electoral Act provide the foundation for democracy, a secure environment is essential for the electorate to freely express their will.
The INEC chairman highlighted emerging threats to Nigeria’s electoral system, including social media volatility, artificial intelligence-driven disinformation, and foreign information manipulation. According to him, these digital risks, when combined with physical threats such as insurgency and communal conflicts, could widen distrust in the electoral process.
Amupitan’s remarks come as INEC prepares for the 2027 general elections, with presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16, 2027, and governorship and state assembly elections slated for February 6, 2027. He described the recently released election timetable as not just an administrative guide but also a “security trigger” requiring early and coordinated action.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to deploying technological tools such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to safeguard the integrity of elections and prevent fraud.
The INEC boss also emphasized the critical role of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), urging security agencies, led by the Nigeria Police Force, to adopt proactive intelligence-sharing strategies rather than reactive approaches.
Citing recent elections, including the Anambra governorship poll and the February 2026 Federal Capital Territory area council elections, Amupitan said improved professionalism among stakeholders contributed to peaceful outcomes.
However, he expressed concern over declining voter turnout, describing voter apathy as a growing security risk. He noted that participation dropped from 53 percent in 2011 to 26 percent in 2023, warning that low turnout could create opportunities for non-state actors to undermine democratic legitimacy.
“To have a peaceful, secure, and prosperous nation, the credibility of our elections cannot be compromised,” he said.
Amupitan called for intensified voter education, greater technological integration, stronger security collaboration, inclusivity, and strict enforcement against electoral malpractices such as vote buying and result manipulation.
He assured Nigerians that INEC remains committed to conducting free, fair, and credible elections in 2027, adding that ongoing efforts such as continuous voter registration and voter register cleanup are aimed at strengthening the electoral process.
The INEC chairman urged stakeholders, including security experts, civil society, and political actors, to work collectively to ensure that the 2027 elections are remembered for stability rather than conflict.
